🔗 Share this article Five Defining Pivotal Events in the Rollback of the Rights of Women and Girls in the Year 2025. In the previous year, feminist advocacy groups were preparing for a return of Donald Trump to office. Hardly anyone anticipated. The sheer number and rapid pace of administrative decrees issued from the White House were regarded as a calculated strategy to paralyze through overload. The tactic proved effective – there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as networks struggled to plug the hole left by a sudden aid suspension. But this was only the precursor. The Trump administration has been the primary force, bolstered by intense advocacy work by religious fundamentalist networks capitalizing on the climate to build worldwide connections with political allies. This opposition to progressive rights signifies a transnational grouping of elected officials, faith-based bodies, non-governmental organisations as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that aim to roll back forward movement on multiple topics. Areas targeted involve pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They achieve this through lobbying governments, supporting court cases, discrediting international efforts to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We analyze five junctures that affected the safety, dignity and lives of the female population. USAID Dismantled In early spring, shortly after a major US aid agency is frozen, causing international chaos, a leading figure in the administration reveals that a vast majority of the body's projects will be terminated. American foreign service officers, ex-presidents and humanitarian and health experts criticize the move, warning that mortality will increase. Rights defenders say that the dismantling of this institution is more than a funding crisis, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and family planning and reproductive care. Numerous groups say the impact on girls and women will be severe by reduced funding, especially in war zones. As the year ends, evidence indicates 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. Additional key contributing countries proceed with parallel slashes. A leader of an international advocacy group says a choice to reduce international development funding is a gesture of alignment with another government's agenda. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In March, several faith-based advocacy networks meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a strategic summit held in parallel with the international conference on women's rights. It is an forum to discuss methods on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they applaud changes in American foreign policy on LGBTQ issues, inclusion, and reproductive rights. Meanwhile, the UN secretary general opens the women’s summit with a stark warning that “the venom of male dominance” is returning, after a analysis demonstrates that anti-rights actors are systematically eroding historic agreements on core aspects of gender equality around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa focused on the conservative family structures and national independence raises concerns among rights advocates. In May, a head of state and partner open a significant conference to combat 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 presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker calls on African NGOs to push back against “worldwide progressive social restructuring” of international organizations. In the following month, a global faith group hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Activists observe that the level of external participation has grown significantly. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As health facilities across Africa report they are facing shortages of birth control, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in July plans to destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a warehouse in Europe. A major reproductive health federation states that their incineration will prevent millions of women and girls from family planning options, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” 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 declines every proposal. The situation remains unresolved as local authorities are blocking the destruction of viable medicines. Broader Restrictions on Aid Bringing back the anti-abortion funding ban, which cuts American funding for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It was widely expected when the ban was reimposed in the first month of the year. The administration also reaffirmed membership in a pro-life declaration. But in October, the US announces it intends to extend the restrictions to include governments and multilateral organisations in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Further specifics about the expansion of the rule are anticipated next year. A expert in child welfare says extending the reach will have “devastating consequences”. Advocates for bodily autonomy fear that upcoming Washington funding agreements being discussed with African nations will become contingent upon adopting the expanded global gag.
In the previous year, feminist advocacy groups were preparing for a return of Donald Trump to office. Hardly anyone anticipated. The sheer number and rapid pace of administrative decrees issued from the White House were regarded as a calculated strategy to paralyze through overload. The tactic proved effective – there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as networks struggled to plug the hole left by a sudden aid suspension. But this was only the precursor. The Trump administration has been the primary force, bolstered by intense advocacy work by religious fundamentalist networks capitalizing on the climate to build worldwide connections with political allies. This opposition to progressive rights signifies a transnational grouping of elected officials, faith-based bodies, non-governmental organisations as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that aim to roll back forward movement on multiple topics. Areas targeted involve pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They achieve this through lobbying governments, supporting court cases, discrediting international efforts to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We analyze five junctures that affected the safety, dignity and lives of the female population. USAID Dismantled In early spring, shortly after a major US aid agency is frozen, causing international chaos, a leading figure in the administration reveals that a vast majority of the body's projects will be terminated. American foreign service officers, ex-presidents and humanitarian and health experts criticize the move, warning that mortality will increase. Rights defenders say that the dismantling of this institution is more than a funding crisis, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and family planning and reproductive care. Numerous groups say the impact on girls and women will be severe by reduced funding, especially in war zones. As the year ends, evidence indicates 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. Additional key contributing countries proceed with parallel slashes. A leader of an international advocacy group says a choice to reduce international development funding is a gesture of alignment with another government's agenda. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In March, several faith-based advocacy networks meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a strategic summit held in parallel with the international conference on women's rights. It is an forum to discuss methods on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they applaud changes in American foreign policy on LGBTQ issues, inclusion, and reproductive rights. Meanwhile, the UN secretary general opens the women’s summit with a stark warning that “the venom of male dominance” is returning, after a analysis demonstrates that anti-rights actors are systematically eroding historic agreements on core aspects of gender equality around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the summer, a series of conferences in Africa focused on the conservative family structures and national independence raises concerns among rights advocates. In May, a head of state and partner open a significant conference to combat 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 presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker calls on African NGOs to push back against “worldwide progressive social restructuring” of international organizations. In the following month, a global faith group hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Activists observe that the level of external participation has grown significantly. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As health facilities across Africa report they are facing shortages of birth control, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in July plans to destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a warehouse in Europe. A major reproductive health federation states that their incineration will prevent millions of women and girls from family planning options, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” 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 declines every proposal. The situation remains unresolved as local authorities are blocking the destruction of viable medicines. Broader Restrictions on Aid Bringing back the anti-abortion funding ban, which cuts American funding for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It was widely expected when the ban was reimposed in the first month of the year. The administration also reaffirmed membership in a pro-life declaration. But in October, the US announces it intends to extend the restrictions to include governments and multilateral organisations in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Further specifics about the expansion of the rule are anticipated next year. A expert in child welfare says extending the reach will have “devastating consequences”. Advocates for bodily autonomy fear that upcoming Washington funding agreements being discussed with African nations will become contingent upon adopting the expanded global gag.