🔗 Share this article Five Pivotal Events in the Erosion of the Rights of Females in 2025. This time last year, women’s rights organisations were bracing themselves for a new Trump administration. Hardly anyone anticipated. The volume and speed of administrative decrees coming out of the White House were seen as a intentional maneuver to cause confusion and fear. In many ways it worked – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as groups rushed to plug the hole left by a freeze on international development funds. But that was just the beginning. The Trump administration has been the central catalyst, supported by vigorous campaigning by religious fundamentalist networks seizing the opportunity to forge international alliances with ideological partners. The anti-rights movement refers to a global network of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that strive to weaken advances on numerous fronts. These include pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They accomplish their goals by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to foster equity, propagating misinformation, and bankrolling sympathetic charities. We look at five episodes that impacted the security, respect, and well-being of the female population. The Dismantling of USAID In the month of March, six weeks after a prominent humanitarian funder is its funds are blocked, causing international chaos, a leading figure in the administration confirms that nearly all of the body's projects will be terminated. American foreign service officers, past leaders and humanitarian and health experts condemn the news, cautioning that people will die as a result. Activists say that the closure of the organization is not just a financial shortfall, it is a savage attack on human rights and family planning and reproductive care. A multitude of agencies say women and girls will be disproportionately affected by reduced funding, especially in war zones. As the year ends, data shows how a significant mortality toll has been exacted from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with millions more to come. Additional key contributing countries initiate similar reductions. 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 the same month, several faith-based advocacy networks meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a biannual gathering held alongside the international conference on women's rights. It is an forum to discuss methods on how to counter the UN's progressive policies. They are in buoyant mood as they applaud new Washington directives on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that “the toxin of gendered hierarchy” is returning, after a report shows that opponents of gender equality are actively undermining established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. African ‘Family Values’ Conferences Over the summer, a cluster of meetings in Africa themed around the conventional household and state autonomy triggers anxiety among human rights defenders. In May, a president and first lady open a major forum to push back on what they label overseas agendas corrupting societal morals. A soon after, another regional summit on traditional morals is held. Both events are graced by leading American and European conservative activists, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker urges African NGOs to resist “radical global social engineering” of global institutions. In the following month, a major religious institution hosts a family strengthening conference in the region, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Advocates remark that the scale of their presence has expanded considerably. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in midsummer plans to incinerate a significant cache of reproductive health commodities held in a European depot. A leading family planning organization states that their incineration will prevent millions of women and girls from access to birth control, and lead to a public health crisis of unwanted pregnancies. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A international emergency medical charity calls it “callous and reckless”. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can reach their intended destinations, but the US declines every proposal. The situation remains at a standstill as the regional government are blocking perfectly good supplies to be incinerated. ‘Global Gag Rule’ Expanded Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It came as no surprise when the policy was restored in January. The administration also rejoined an international anti-abortion agreement. But in October, the US announces it intends to expand the global gag rule to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to cover diversity programmes. Further specifics about the policy's widened application are anticipated next year. A director of a major health partnership says broadening the policy will have “catastrophic impacts”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that upcoming Washington funding agreements being negotiated with countries in Africa will become contingent upon adopting the new, wider policy.
This time last year, women’s rights organisations were bracing themselves for a new Trump administration. Hardly anyone anticipated. The volume and speed of administrative decrees coming out of the White House were seen as a intentional maneuver to cause confusion and fear. In many ways it worked – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as groups rushed to plug the hole left by a freeze on international development funds. But that was just the beginning. The Trump administration has been the central catalyst, supported by vigorous campaigning by religious fundamentalist networks seizing the opportunity to forge international alliances with ideological partners. The anti-rights movement refers to a global network of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that strive to weaken advances on numerous fronts. These include pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They accomplish their goals by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to foster equity, propagating misinformation, and bankrolling sympathetic charities. We look at five episodes that impacted the security, respect, and well-being of the female population. The Dismantling of USAID In the month of March, six weeks after a prominent humanitarian funder is its funds are blocked, causing international chaos, a leading figure in the administration confirms that nearly all of the body's projects will be terminated. American foreign service officers, past leaders and humanitarian and health experts condemn the news, cautioning that people will die as a result. Activists say that the closure of the organization is not just a financial shortfall, it is a savage attack on human rights and family planning and reproductive care. A multitude of agencies say women and girls will be disproportionately affected by reduced funding, especially in war zones. As the year ends, data shows how a significant mortality toll has been exacted from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with millions more to come. Additional key contributing countries initiate similar reductions. 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 the same month, several faith-based advocacy networks meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a biannual gathering held alongside the international conference on women's rights. It is an forum to discuss methods on how to counter the UN's progressive policies. They are in buoyant mood as they applaud new Washington directives on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that “the toxin of gendered hierarchy” is returning, after a report shows that opponents of gender equality are actively undermining established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. African ‘Family Values’ Conferences Over the summer, a cluster of meetings in Africa themed around the conventional household and state autonomy triggers anxiety among human rights defenders. In May, a president and first lady open a major forum to push back on what they label overseas agendas corrupting societal morals. A soon after, another regional summit on traditional morals is held. Both events are graced by leading American and European conservative activists, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker urges African NGOs to resist “radical global social engineering” of global institutions. In the following month, a major religious institution hosts a family strengthening conference in the region, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Advocates remark that the scale of their presence has expanded considerably. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in midsummer plans to incinerate a significant cache of reproductive health commodities held in a European depot. A leading family planning organization states that their incineration will prevent millions of women and girls from access to birth control, and lead to a public health crisis of unwanted pregnancies. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A international emergency medical charity calls it “callous and reckless”. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can reach their intended destinations, but the US declines every proposal. The situation remains at a standstill as the regional government are blocking perfectly good supplies to be incinerated. ‘Global Gag Rule’ Expanded Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It came as no surprise when the policy was restored in January. The administration also rejoined an international anti-abortion agreement. But in October, the US announces it intends to expand the global gag rule to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to cover diversity programmes. Further specifics about the policy's widened application are anticipated next year. A director of a major health partnership says broadening the policy will have “catastrophic impacts”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that upcoming Washington funding agreements being negotiated with countries in Africa will become contingent upon adopting the new, wider policy.