President Barack Obama has lifted the Global Gag Rule that banned US funding for any international healthcare organizations that perform abortions or advocates for the legalization of abortion, even if those activities are funded by non-US money. The Global Gag Rule was seen by many as a major global barrier to access to crucial women’s health services. Gill Greer of the International Planned Parenthood Federation praised Obama’s decision. She said, “For eight long years, the Global Gag Rule has been used by the Bush administration to play politics with the lives of poor women across the world.”