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Sex, abortion and Obama

The immortal words “Yes, We Can” will forever be ingrained in the memory of anyone following the United States (US) presidency campaign stretching from early 2007 to late 2008. When President Barack Obama was inaugurated into office, the whole world knew it was a historic moment. He had easily defeated Republican rival John McCain to become the first black President of the USA. Moreover, the world was now ready for change. And Obama convinced the US people that he could deliver, with those words: “Yes, We Can”. However, after completing his first year in office in 2009, the optimism had drained away and critics have been questioning whether Obama's well-crafted speeches and charisma have any true substance. Domestically, his presidency has been dominated by his controversial attempts to reform the US health care system. Internationally, his policies towards Afghanistan, nuclear disarmament, the debt crisis and climate change have been high priorities, but open to harsh criticism and limited success. While Obama has been criticised from his first year in office, some of his true successes have been overshadowed, namely his desire to place reproductive and sexual health at the heart of his presidency.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual health as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related to sexuality; not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence”.1 This definition ties closely with two key areas: access to comprehensive and accessible family planning services and sex education; two issues that have been highly contentious and politicised within the USA. Induced abortion particularly has been heavily rooted in US political struggles, attracting mass media …