🔗 Share this article A Quintet of Crucial Incidents in the Assault on the Rights of Women and Girls in the Past Year. In the previous year, organisations advocating for women's rights were bracing themselves for a return of Donald Trump to office. Few were prepared for. The sheer number and rapid pace of presidential directives issued from the White House were regarded as a deliberate tactic to induce a state of shock. The tactic proved effective – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as organisations scrambled to fill the gap left by a freeze on international development funds. But that was just the beginning. The American government has been the main instigator, aided by intense advocacy work by ultra-conservative groups seizing the opportunity to build worldwide connections with sympathetic regimes. This opposition to progressive rights denotes an international coalition of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as affluent financiers and clans that aim to roll back forward movement on multiple topics. This covers access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They do this by influencing policymakers, funding litigation, undermining global initiatives to foster equity, propagating misinformation, and bankrolling sympathetic charities. We look at five junctures that shaped the protection, honor, and existence of women and girls. The Demise of a Major Aid Agency In early spring, a month and a half following a key American development organization is suspended, causing international chaos, a leading figure in the administration confirms that nearly all of the body's projects will be terminated. US diplomats, past leaders and humanitarian and health experts denounce the action, stating that lives will be lost. Rights defenders say that the dismantling of this institution is not just a financial shortfall, it is a vicious offensive against basic liberties and family planning and reproductive care. Numerous groups say the impact on girls and women will be severe by reduced funding, especially in regions of instability. As the year ends, data shows how a significant mortality toll has been exacted from illness, famine, inadequate obstetric services, and violence against women, with a far greater catastrophe looming. Another pair of leading funders proceed with parallel slashes. A director of a global justice organization says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is a gesture of alignment with another government's agenda. Christian-Right Groups Raise Voices During UN Women Summit In the same month, several conservative religious groups meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a two-day conference held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they applaud new Washington directives on social issues and termination of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the world's top diplomat opens the gender equality forum with a somber alert that “the venom of male dominance” is resurgent, after a analysis demonstrates that anti-rights actors are systematically eroding established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. African ‘Family Values’ Conferences Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa focused on the conservative family structures and national independence triggers anxiety among rights advocates. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a major forum to combat what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A shortly thereafter, another continental gathering on traditional morals is held. Both events are attended by leading American and European conservative activists, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to stand up to “radical global social engineering” of global institutions. 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 an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Campaigners note that the level of external participation has expanded considerably. Contraceptive Destruction Order As medical centers in numerous African countries report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including prophylaxis for assault victims, the US announces in July plans to dispose of a vast stockpile of birth control held in a European depot. A leading family planning organization states that their elimination will deprive a huge female population from contraceptive supplies, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision “about exporting a regressive policy worldwide” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A international emergency medical charity 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 in deadlock as the regional government will not allow perfectly good supplies to be incinerated. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reviving the global gag rule, which cuts American funding for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It was anticipated when the policy was restored in the first month of the year. 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 sovereign states and UN agencies in addition to NGOs, and to cover diversity programmes. Further specifics about the policy's widened application are expected in early 2026. A leader in global maternal health says widening the scope will have “catastrophic impacts”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that new US aid packages being arranged with states on the continent will become conditional on accepting the new, wider policy.
In the previous year, organisations advocating for women's rights were bracing themselves for a return of Donald Trump to office. Few were prepared for. The sheer number and rapid pace of presidential directives issued from the White House were regarded as a deliberate tactic to induce a state of shock. The tactic proved effective – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as organisations scrambled to fill the gap left by a freeze on international development funds. But that was just the beginning. The American government has been the main instigator, aided by intense advocacy work by ultra-conservative groups seizing the opportunity to build worldwide connections with sympathetic regimes. This opposition to progressive rights denotes an international coalition of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as affluent financiers and clans that aim to roll back forward movement on multiple topics. This covers access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They do this by influencing policymakers, funding litigation, undermining global initiatives to foster equity, propagating misinformation, and bankrolling sympathetic charities. We look at five junctures that shaped the protection, honor, and existence of women and girls. The Demise of a Major Aid Agency In early spring, a month and a half following a key American development organization is suspended, causing international chaos, a leading figure in the administration confirms that nearly all of the body's projects will be terminated. US diplomats, past leaders and humanitarian and health experts denounce the action, stating that lives will be lost. Rights defenders say that the dismantling of this institution is not just a financial shortfall, it is a vicious offensive against basic liberties and family planning and reproductive care. Numerous groups say the impact on girls and women will be severe by reduced funding, especially in regions of instability. As the year ends, data shows how a significant mortality toll has been exacted from illness, famine, inadequate obstetric services, and violence against women, with a far greater catastrophe looming. Another pair of leading funders proceed with parallel slashes. A director of a global justice organization says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is a gesture of alignment with another government's agenda. Christian-Right Groups Raise Voices During UN Women Summit In the same month, several conservative religious groups meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a two-day conference held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they applaud new Washington directives on social issues and termination of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the world's top diplomat opens the gender equality forum with a somber alert that “the venom of male dominance” is resurgent, after a analysis demonstrates that anti-rights actors are systematically eroding established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. African ‘Family Values’ Conferences Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa focused on the conservative family structures and national independence triggers anxiety among rights advocates. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a major forum to combat what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A shortly thereafter, another continental gathering on traditional morals is held. Both events are attended by leading American and European conservative activists, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to stand up to “radical global social engineering” of global institutions. 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 an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Campaigners note that the level of external participation has expanded considerably. Contraceptive Destruction Order As medical centers in numerous African countries report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including prophylaxis for assault victims, the US announces in July plans to dispose of a vast stockpile of birth control held in a European depot. A leading family planning organization states that their elimination will deprive a huge female population from contraceptive supplies, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision “about exporting a regressive policy worldwide” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A international emergency medical charity 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 in deadlock as the regional government will not allow perfectly good supplies to be incinerated. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reviving the global gag rule, which cuts American funding for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It was anticipated when the policy was restored in the first month of the year. 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 sovereign states and UN agencies in addition to NGOs, and to cover diversity programmes. Further specifics about the policy's widened application are expected in early 2026. A leader in global maternal health says widening the scope will have “catastrophic impacts”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that new US aid packages being arranged with states on the continent will become conditional on accepting the new, wider policy.