🔗 Share this article Five Defining Pivotal Events in the Assault on the Rights of Females in This Past Year. This time last year, groups dedicated to gender equality were preparing for a return of Donald Trump to office. Scarcely anyone expected. The volume and speed of presidential directives emanating from the White House were seen as a calculated strategy to overwhelm and create panic. This strategy had its intended impact – there was chaos, resentment, and burnout as groups rushed to plug the hole left by a sudden aid suspension. But this merely marked the opening act. The Trump administration has been the central catalyst, bolstered by fervent lobbying efforts by ultra-conservative groups using the moment to forge international alliances with like-minded governments. The anti-rights movement refers to a global network of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as billionaire families and individuals that work to dismantle forward movement on multiple topics. This encompasses abortion, LGBTQ rights, trans rights, non-traditional family structures and comprehensive sexuality education. They pursue this agenda via advocating to officials, financing legal challenges, sabotaging multilateral work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We look at five moments that influenced the protection, honor, and existence of women and girls. USAID Dismantled In early spring, six weeks after a major US aid agency is suspended, causing turmoil around the world, a leading figure in the administration reveals that a vast majority of the agency’s programmes will be eliminated. American foreign service officers, former presidents and aid and medical specialists condemn the news, cautioning that fatalities will ensue. Human rights advocates say that the dismantling of this institution is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and birth control and maternal healthcare. Many organisations say females will bear the brunt by shrinking assistance, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, data shows how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with many more millions at risk. Another pair of leading funders proceed with parallel slashes. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a choice to reduce international development funding is a move to appease a political ally. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In March, several Christian-right organisations meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a biannual gathering held concurrently with the international conference on women's rights. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they welcome changes in American foreign policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a grave caution that “the poison of patriarchy” is back, after a report shows that groups opposing progressive rights are systematically eroding established norms on key women’s rights issues around the world. Conferences on Traditional Values in Africa Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa centered on the traditional family and national sovereignty triggers anxiety among rights advocates. In the start of May, a national leader and spouse open a significant conference to resist what they label external influences undermining local norms. A soon after, another continental gathering on traditional morals is held. Both events are participated in 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 global faith group hosts a event focused on reinforcing families in an African nation, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Advocates remark that the scale of their presence has increased markedly. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As clinics in sub-Saharan 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 European depot. A major reproductive health federation states that their elimination will deprive countless females from family planning options, and lead to a public health crisis of unwanted pregnancies. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision “about forcing a conservative worldview globally” and “a deliberate form of reproductive oppression”. A renowned doctors' group calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can be distributed to those in need, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains unresolved as the regional government will not allow usable products to be destroyed. Widening of the Anti-Abortion Policy Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is typical of 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 broaden the scope of the policy to include sovereign states and UN agencies in addition to NGOs, and to cover diversity programmes. Additional information regarding the broader enforcement are expected in early 2026. A leader in global maternal health says broadening the policy will have “unimaginable effects”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that fresh American assistance deals being discussed with African nations will become dependent on agreeing to the expanded global gag.
This time last year, groups dedicated to gender equality were preparing for a return of Donald Trump to office. Scarcely anyone expected. The volume and speed of presidential directives emanating from the White House were seen as a calculated strategy to overwhelm and create panic. This strategy had its intended impact – there was chaos, resentment, and burnout as groups rushed to plug the hole left by a sudden aid suspension. But this merely marked the opening act. The Trump administration has been the central catalyst, bolstered by fervent lobbying efforts by ultra-conservative groups using the moment to forge international alliances with like-minded governments. The anti-rights movement refers to a global network of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as billionaire families and individuals that work to dismantle forward movement on multiple topics. This encompasses abortion, LGBTQ rights, trans rights, non-traditional family structures and comprehensive sexuality education. They pursue this agenda via advocating to officials, financing legal challenges, sabotaging multilateral work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We look at five moments that influenced the protection, honor, and existence of women and girls. USAID Dismantled In early spring, six weeks after a major US aid agency is suspended, causing turmoil around the world, a leading figure in the administration reveals that a vast majority of the agency’s programmes will be eliminated. American foreign service officers, former presidents and aid and medical specialists condemn the news, cautioning that fatalities will ensue. Human rights advocates say that the dismantling of this institution is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and birth control and maternal healthcare. Many organisations say females will bear the brunt by shrinking assistance, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, data shows how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with many more millions at risk. Another pair of leading funders proceed with parallel slashes. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a choice to reduce international development funding is a move to appease a political ally. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In March, several Christian-right organisations meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a biannual gathering held concurrently with the international conference on women's rights. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they welcome changes in American foreign policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a grave caution that “the poison of patriarchy” is back, after a report shows that groups opposing progressive rights are systematically eroding established norms on key women’s rights issues around the world. Conferences on Traditional Values in Africa Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa centered on the traditional family and national sovereignty triggers anxiety among rights advocates. In the start of May, a national leader and spouse open a significant conference to resist what they label external influences undermining local norms. A soon after, another continental gathering on traditional morals is held. Both events are participated in 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 global faith group hosts a event focused on reinforcing families in an African nation, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Advocates remark that the scale of their presence has increased markedly. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As clinics in sub-Saharan 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 European depot. A major reproductive health federation states that their elimination will deprive countless females from family planning options, and lead to a public health crisis of unwanted pregnancies. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision “about forcing a conservative worldview globally” and “a deliberate form of reproductive oppression”. A renowned doctors' group calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can be distributed to those in need, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains unresolved as the regional government will not allow usable products to be destroyed. Widening of the Anti-Abortion Policy Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is typical of 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 broaden the scope of the policy to include sovereign states and UN agencies in addition to NGOs, and to cover diversity programmes. Additional information regarding the broader enforcement are expected in early 2026. A leader in global maternal health says broadening the policy will have “unimaginable effects”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that fresh American assistance deals being discussed with African nations will become dependent on agreeing to the expanded global gag.