đ Share this article Five Defining Pivotal Events in the Challenge to the Rights of Women and Girls in the Year 2025. Twelve months prior, organisations advocating for women's rights were preparing for a Trump presidency sequel. Few were prepared for. The torrent and swiftness of administrative decrees issued from the White House were viewed as a intentional maneuver to cause confusion and fear. In many ways it worked â there was chaos, resentment, and burnout as organisations scrambled to plug the hole left by a major funding freeze. But the situation was about to worsen. The American government has been the central catalyst, bolstered by fervent lobbying efforts by ultra-conservative groups using the moment to strengthen global ties with ideological partners. The movement against gender equality refers to a global network of elected officials, faith-based bodies, non-governmental organisations as well as affluent financiers and clans that work to dismantle progress across a wide spectrum of issues. Areas targeted involve reproductive choice, queer and transgender freedoms, diverse family models, and honest sex ed. They do this by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We look at five instances that shaped the welfare, autonomy, and survival of women and girls. USAID Effectively Dismantled In the month of March, shortly after a prominent humanitarian funder is suspended, causing international chaos, a top American diplomat reveals that the lion's share of the agencyâs programmes will be eliminated. American foreign service officers, past leaders and aid and medical specialists denounce the action, stating that fatalities will ensue. Human rights advocates say that the demise of the agency is not just a financial shortfall, it is a savage attack on human rights and access to contraception and reproductive health services. Numerous groups say females will bear the brunt by shrinking assistance, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, evidence indicates how a significant mortality toll has been exacted from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with millions more to come. Additional key contributing countries proceed with parallel slashes. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is a move to appease a political ally. Faith-Based Activists Mobilize at UN Conference In March, several Christian-right organisations meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a strategic summit held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to defeat the UNâs âradical agendaâ. They are in high spirits as they applaud shifts in US policy on LGBTQ issues, inclusion, and reproductive rights. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that âthe venom of male dominanceâ is back, after a report shows that opponents of gender equality are actively undermining established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the warmer months, a cluster of meetings in Africa themed around the traditional family and national sovereignty sparks alarm among rights advocates. In early May, a president and first lady open a large assembly to push back on what they label external influences undermining local norms. A shortly thereafter, another Pan-African conference on conservative ethics is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to push back against âworldwide progressive social restructuringâ of multilateral bodies. In the following month, a global faith group hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Campaigners note that the extent of foreign involvement has increased markedly. Contraceptive Destruction Order As health facilities across Africa report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including prophylaxis for assault victims, the US announces in midsummer plans to dispose of millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a storage facility in Belgium. A leading family planning organization states that their destruction will deny a huge female population from contraceptive supplies, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision âabout imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire worldâ and âa deliberate form of reproductive oppressionâ. A renowned doctors' group calls it âheartless and dangerousâ. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US refuses all offers. The situation remains in deadlock as the regional government are blocking the destruction of viable medicines. âGlobal Gag Ruleâ Expanded Reviving the global gag rule, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It was anticipated when the rule was reinstated in January. The administration also signed onto a conservative consensus document. But in the autumn, the US announces it intends to extend the restrictions to include sovereign states and UN agencies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the policy's widened application are expected in early 2026. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have âcatastrophic impactsâ. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that fresh American assistance deals being discussed with African nations will become contingent upon adopting the new, wider policy.
Twelve months prior, organisations advocating for women's rights were preparing for a Trump presidency sequel. Few were prepared for. The torrent and swiftness of administrative decrees issued from the White House were viewed as a intentional maneuver to cause confusion and fear. In many ways it worked â there was chaos, resentment, and burnout as organisations scrambled to plug the hole left by a major funding freeze. But the situation was about to worsen. The American government has been the central catalyst, bolstered by fervent lobbying efforts by ultra-conservative groups using the moment to strengthen global ties with ideological partners. The movement against gender equality refers to a global network of elected officials, faith-based bodies, non-governmental organisations as well as affluent financiers and clans that work to dismantle progress across a wide spectrum of issues. Areas targeted involve reproductive choice, queer and transgender freedoms, diverse family models, and honest sex ed. They do this by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We look at five instances that shaped the welfare, autonomy, and survival of women and girls. USAID Effectively Dismantled In the month of March, shortly after a prominent humanitarian funder is suspended, causing international chaos, a top American diplomat reveals that the lion's share of the agencyâs programmes will be eliminated. American foreign service officers, past leaders and aid and medical specialists denounce the action, stating that fatalities will ensue. Human rights advocates say that the demise of the agency is not just a financial shortfall, it is a savage attack on human rights and access to contraception and reproductive health services. Numerous groups say females will bear the brunt by shrinking assistance, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, evidence indicates how a significant mortality toll has been exacted from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with millions more to come. Additional key contributing countries proceed with parallel slashes. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is a move to appease a political ally. Faith-Based Activists Mobilize at UN Conference In March, several Christian-right organisations meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a strategic summit held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to defeat the UNâs âradical agendaâ. They are in high spirits as they applaud shifts in US policy on LGBTQ issues, inclusion, and reproductive rights. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that âthe venom of male dominanceâ is back, after a report shows that opponents of gender equality are actively undermining established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the warmer months, a cluster of meetings in Africa themed around the traditional family and national sovereignty sparks alarm among rights advocates. In early May, a president and first lady open a large assembly to push back on what they label external influences undermining local norms. A shortly thereafter, another Pan-African conference on conservative ethics is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to push back against âworldwide progressive social restructuringâ of multilateral bodies. In the following month, a global faith group hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Campaigners note that the extent of foreign involvement has increased markedly. Contraceptive Destruction Order As health facilities across Africa report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including prophylaxis for assault victims, the US announces in midsummer plans to dispose of millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a storage facility in Belgium. A leading family planning organization states that their destruction will deny a huge female population from contraceptive supplies, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision âabout imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire worldâ and âa deliberate form of reproductive oppressionâ. A renowned doctors' group calls it âheartless and dangerousâ. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US refuses all offers. The situation remains in deadlock as the regional government are blocking the destruction of viable medicines. âGlobal Gag Ruleâ Expanded Reviving the global gag rule, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It was anticipated when the rule was reinstated in January. The administration also signed onto a conservative consensus document. But in the autumn, the US announces it intends to extend the restrictions to include sovereign states and UN agencies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the policy's widened application are expected in early 2026. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have âcatastrophic impactsâ. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that fresh American assistance deals being discussed with African nations will become contingent upon adopting the new, wider policy.