ON HEALTH CARE A panel discusses the impact of the American practice of selective funding only for women’s health care and HIV/AIDS programs. Known as the “global gag rule,” the 2001 policy prohibits foreign nongovernmental recipients of American family planning funds from, among other things, promoting or advocating abortion. Panelists include the director of the law and health program at the Open Society Institute, Jonathan Cohen; the faculty director of the Crowley Program in International Human Rights, Martin Flaherty, and a Crowley fellow in international human rights, Mehlika Hoodbhoy. Tracy Higgins of the Fordham University School of Law serves as moderator. Tonight, 6-7:30 p.m., Fordham University School of Law, James B.M. McNally Amphitheatre, 140 W. 62nd St., between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues, 212-636-6862, free.

ICE AGE PASSAGE Adventurer Jon Turk sailed and kayaked to Alaska from Japan in 1999 and 2000, re-creating the path of Stone Age mariners who paddled those waters more than 10,000 years ago. The resulting book, “In the Wake of the Jomon: Stone Age Mariners and a Journey Across the Pacific” (McGraw-Hill) – and a lecture tonight – asks why people with only primitive tools left their bountiful homeland to paddle into the frozen Arctic during the Ice Age. Tonight, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. lecture, Explorers Club, 46 E. 70th St., between Park and Madison avenues, 212-628-8383, $15 general, $5 students, free for members.

HER PARTY, TOO A former New Jersey governor and Environmental Protection Agency director, Christine Todd Whitman, addresses the role of women in politics and other public affairs as part of the Women in Public and International Affairs series of lectures. She also discusses her new book, “It’s My Party Too: The Battle for the Heart of the GOP and the Future of America” (Penguin). Tomorrow, 5:30 p.m., Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, Schottenstein Cultural Center, 215 Lexington Ave., between 32nd and 33rd streets, 212-960-5488, free.

SHAPING COMMUNITY IDENTITY A forum addresses how public art shapes communities. Panelists are Manhattan’s president, Scott Stringer; the acting director of the city’s Percent for Art program, Cathie Behrend; urban designer Bonnie Harken; public art consultant Kendal Henry, and the executive director of the West Harlem Art Fund, Savona Bailey-McClain. An arts re porter and producer for NY1, Stephanie Simon, moderates the discussion. A reception and special viewing of the exhibition “New York Comes Back: Mayor Ed Koch and the City” follows the program. Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. at 103rd Street, 212-534-1672 ext. 3395, free.

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