No, the Foreign Office is not funding abortions in Afghanistan

Pollock was reacting to a press release from the Foreign Office announcing new support for millions of women in some of the world’s poorest countries to gain greater choice over pregnancy and access better maternal healthcare.

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In the press release, which uses the word “abortion” once in more than 800 words, it sets out how it will help avert 14 million unintended pregnancies and prevent more than 35,000 maternal deaths

The funding will be delivered through the CHOICES programme, which works in sexual and reproductive rights, and operates in 54 countries including Afghanistan, Chad, the Gambia, Malawi, Sudan and Yemen, all of which experience high rates of death in childbirth and low rates of contraceptive use.

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Pollock appears, then, to decide this means the Foreign Office is “funding abortions in Afghanistan” – but it will not be. 

UK Official Development Assistance operates within the local laws of the host countries, and in Afghanistan (under Taliban rule) abortion is illegal with the sole exception of the woman’s life being in danger. Even then, permission is rarely granted in practice. UK aid does not fund illegal procedures in recipient nations. 

In fact, UK-funded foreign aid programs like CHOICES primarily provide maternal health care, family planning and barrier contraceptives. But then “Why is the Foreign Office funding family planning advice in some of the world’s most desperately poor countries?” probably isn’t clickbaity enough for the Paul Marshall-owned website.