The UK is facing calls to help plug a funding gap for overseas health providers after Donald Trump banned US government money going to any foreign aid organisations that discuss abortions.

Human Rights Watch has urged the UK send a message to the Trump administration that “women’s lives are not a political football”, by stepping up its commitment to health centres abroad.

Mr Trump signed an order restoring and expanding the Mexico City policy, known as the “Global Gag Rule” on his first day in the White House.

Trump's new gag rule puts women's lives at risk

The policy stipulates that funding cannot go to any foreign aid group that mentions the option of abortion, prompting criticism that the Trump administration is conducting “censorship” of medical options in some of the world’s most deprived countries.

USAID is already prevented from paying for abortions, but the bill is now expected to affect organisations like Marie Stopes International and Planned Parenthood International, both of which provide contraceptives and sex education to millions of people worldwide.

In reaction to Mr Trump's executive order, the Dutch government established an initiative called “She Decides” and pledged a donation of 10m euros towards organisations affected by the cuts.

Belgium, Denmark, Canada and Sweden have also pledged their support, with several more indicating they will do so on Thursday, when representatives of 19 governments will meet in Brussels to discuss the issue.

A European parliament resolution, adopted on 14 February, called on EU member states to “counter the impact of the gag rule by significantly increasing sexual and reproductive health and rights funding […] using both national as well as EU development funding.”

The UK has said it will attend the conference, but – along with other major powers such as France, Japan and Australia – has has yet to announce its support.

“Trump's new dramatically expanded global gag rule represents a very serious danger to the health – and the lives – of women and girls around the world,” Human Rights Watch’s senior researcher on women’s rights Heather Barr, said.

“The UK has been an important supporter of women's rights, and UK leadership on this issue is urgently needed at this moment.

“UK participation in the She Decides initiative would help send a message to other donors, to women, and to Trump that women's lives are not a political football.”

It also estimates that nearly 7 million women in less economically developed countries are need medical attention after undergoing unsafe abortions annually, and at least 22,000 die from abortion-related complications every year.

Mr Trump said in his first speech to Congress he would “invest in women's health", vowing to improve childcare services in the US.

In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Show all 32 1 /32 In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London An image of President Donald Trump is seen on a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A view of the skywriting word reading 'Trump' as thousands rally in support of equal rights in Sydney, New South Wales EPA In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Rome People shout and hold signs during a rally against US newly sworn-in President Donald Trump in Rome Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump London A protester holds a placard during the Women's March in London, England Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Marseille A placard ready 'Pussy grabs back' is attached to the handle bar of a bike during a 'Women's March' organized by Feminist and human rights groups in 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The Women's March originated in Washington DC but soon spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Manila A mother carries her son as they join a rally in solidarity against the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines AP In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney An infant is held up at a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman attends a demonstration against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydney A woman expresses her Anti-Trump views in Sydney, Australia Getty Images In pictures: Women of the world march against Trump Sydeney Protesters demonstrate against new U.S. President Donald Trump in Sydney, Australia. 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But Human Rights Watch anticipated Mr Trump’s version of the gag rule – which has been implemented by previous republican Presidents – would badly affect impact women's health on an unprecedented scale.

Previous Republican Presidents, including George W Bush and Ronald Reagan also indicated versions of the Global Gag Order, but the human rights organisation estimated Trump's version would affect around 16 times more funding than ever before.

Up to $9.5bn (£7.7bn) of funding, which goes to not only funding family planning, but also maternal and child health, HIV, and malaria programmes, is now threatened by the bill.

Foreign organisations receiving US health finance will have to choose between losing their American government sponsorship or choose to stop giving any advice on abortion.

The Department for International Development said the UK was the world's second largest bilateral donor of family planning and that it had more than doubled its investment in the area since 2010.

“The UK is already a global leader on family planning, and sexual and reproductive rights" a spokesperson from the department said.

"We are setting the agenda by hosting a major international summit this summer to secure commitments that increase access to family planning services for women and girls in the world’s poorest and most fragile countries.