This submission sets out concerns over a United States (“US”) policy that results in the systematic denial of safe abortion services to girls and women raped in war in violation of their rights under international humanitarian law. The policy in question is a set of abortion restrictions that the US places on all of its foreign aid, without exception, including on humanitarian assistance to war victims. As a result of the overly narrow interpretation and implementation of these restrictions, US funds cannot be used for the provision of safe abortion services to girls and women raped in war. The restrictions also act to limit and censor abortion-related speech abroad. As explained in this submission, these restrictions by the US Government render the US noncompliant with its obligations under international humanitarian law, UN Security Council Resolutions, and international human rights law.

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