🔗 Share this article Five Crucial Incidents in the Attack on the Rights of Women and Girls in the Year 2025. Twelve months prior, women’s rights organisations were preparing for a second Trump term. The ensuing chaos was largely unforeseen. The torrent and swiftness of administrative decrees issued from the White House were regarded as a calculated strategy to overwhelm and create panic. The tactic proved effective – there was chaos, resentment, and burnout as networks struggled to plug the hole left by a sudden aid suspension. But that was just the beginning. The Washington leadership has been the primary force, supported by fervent lobbying efforts by ultra-conservative groups seizing the opportunity to forge international alliances with political allies. This opposition to progressive rights refers to a global network of policymakers, doctrinal establishments, and activist outfits as well as billionaire families and individuals that work to dismantle advances on numerous fronts. These include access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They accomplish their goals by advocating to officials, financing legal challenges, sabotaging multilateral work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We review five instances that affected the welfare, autonomy, and survival of girls and women. The Demise of a Major Aid Agency In early spring, a month and a half following a prominent humanitarian funder is suspended, causing global disruption, a top American diplomat announces that the lion's share of the institution's work will be scrapped. Career diplomats, past leaders and relief and public health authorities decry the decision, cautioning that lives will be lost. Rights defenders say that the closure of the organization is more than a funding crisis, it is a vicious offensive against basic liberties and birth control and maternal healthcare. Many organisations say the impact on girls and women will be severe by waning support, especially in regions of instability. As the year ends, reports confirm how a tremendous loss of life has already occurred from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with a far greater catastrophe looming. Additional key contributing countries follow with their own cuts. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a move to cut foreign aid drastically is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In March, several Christian-right organisations meet in an upmarket New York hotel for a biannual gathering held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an chance to exchange strategies on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in buoyant mood as they applaud shifts in US policy on social issues and termination of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that “the poison of patriarchy” is back, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Conferences on Traditional Values in Africa Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa themed around the conventional household and state autonomy triggers anxiety among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a major forum to resist what they label external influences undermining local norms. A few days later, another Pan-African conference on traditional morals is held. Both events are attended by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to resist “radical global social engineering” of global institutions. In June, a major religious institution hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Campaigners note that the scale of their presence has grown significantly. Contraceptive Destruction Order As health facilities across Africa report they are running out of contraceptives, including emergency kits for survivors of sexual violence, the US announces in July plans to destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a storage facility in Belgium. A major reproductive health federation states that their destruction will deny a huge female population from access to birth control, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move “about exporting a regressive policy worldwide” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A international emergency medical charity calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US refuses all offers. The situation remains at a standstill as the regional government will not allow usable products to be destroyed. ‘Global Gag Rule’ Expanded Bringing back the anti-abortion funding ban, which halts US aid to groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It came as no surprise when the ban was reimposed in January. The administration also rejoined an international anti-abortion agreement. But in the autumn, the US announces it intends to broaden the scope of the policy to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the expansion of the rule are anticipated next year. A leader in global maternal health says extending the reach will have “devastating consequences”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that new US aid packages being negotiated with countries in Africa will become conditional on accepting the expanded global gag.
Twelve months prior, women’s rights organisations were preparing for a second Trump term. The ensuing chaos was largely unforeseen. The torrent and swiftness of administrative decrees issued from the White House were regarded as a calculated strategy to overwhelm and create panic. The tactic proved effective – there was chaos, resentment, and burnout as networks struggled to plug the hole left by a sudden aid suspension. But that was just the beginning. The Washington leadership has been the primary force, supported by fervent lobbying efforts by ultra-conservative groups seizing the opportunity to forge international alliances with political allies. This opposition to progressive rights refers to a global network of policymakers, doctrinal establishments, and activist outfits as well as billionaire families and individuals that work to dismantle advances on numerous fronts. These include access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They accomplish their goals by advocating to officials, financing legal challenges, sabotaging multilateral work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We review five instances that affected the welfare, autonomy, and survival of girls and women. The Demise of a Major Aid Agency In early spring, a month and a half following a prominent humanitarian funder is suspended, causing global disruption, a top American diplomat announces that the lion's share of the institution's work will be scrapped. Career diplomats, past leaders and relief and public health authorities decry the decision, cautioning that lives will be lost. Rights defenders say that the closure of the organization is more than a funding crisis, it is a vicious offensive against basic liberties and birth control and maternal healthcare. Many organisations say the impact on girls and women will be severe by waning support, especially in regions of instability. As the year ends, reports confirm how a tremendous loss of life has already occurred from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with a far greater catastrophe looming. Additional key contributing countries follow with their own cuts. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a move to cut foreign aid drastically is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In March, several Christian-right organisations meet in an upmarket New York hotel for a biannual gathering held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an chance to exchange strategies on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in buoyant mood as they applaud shifts in US policy on social issues and termination of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that “the poison of patriarchy” is back, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Conferences on Traditional Values in Africa Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa themed around the conventional household and state autonomy triggers anxiety among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a major forum to resist what they label external influences undermining local norms. A few days later, another Pan-African conference on traditional morals is held. Both events are attended by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to resist “radical global social engineering” of global institutions. In June, a major religious institution hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Campaigners note that the scale of their presence has grown significantly. Contraceptive Destruction Order As health facilities across Africa report they are running out of contraceptives, including emergency kits for survivors of sexual violence, the US announces in July plans to destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a storage facility in Belgium. A major reproductive health federation states that their destruction will deny a huge female population from access to birth control, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move “about exporting a regressive policy worldwide” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A international emergency medical charity calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US refuses all offers. The situation remains at a standstill as the regional government will not allow usable products to be destroyed. ‘Global Gag Rule’ Expanded Bringing back the anti-abortion funding ban, which halts US aid to groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It came as no surprise when the ban was reimposed in January. The administration also rejoined an international anti-abortion agreement. But in the autumn, the US announces it intends to broaden the scope of the policy to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the expansion of the rule are anticipated next year. A leader in global maternal health says extending the reach will have “devastating consequences”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that new US aid packages being negotiated with countries in Africa will become conditional on accepting the expanded global gag.