đ Share this article Five Critical Key Moments in the Erosion of the Rights of Women and Girls in 2025. In the previous year, feminist advocacy groups were bracing themselves for a Trump presidency sequel. Hardly anyone anticipated. The volume and speed of administrative decrees issued from the White House were interpreted as a calculated strategy to cause confusion and fear. In many ways it worked â there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as networks struggled to compensate for the loss left by a major funding freeze. But this merely marked the opening act. The US administration has been the key driver, aided by vigorous campaigning by religious fundamentalist networks using the moment to strengthen global ties with like-minded governments. The anti-rights movement denotes an international coalition of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that seek to undermine gains in a variety of areas. Areas targeted involve pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. 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 analyze five junctures that influenced the protection, honor, and existence of the female population. The Dismantling of USAID In March, six weeks after a prominent humanitarian funder is suspended, causing widespread distress, a top American diplomat states that the lion's share of the institution's work will be scrapped. American foreign service officers, former presidents and humanitarian and health experts denounce the action, cautioning that mortality will increase. Activists say that the dismantling of this institution is more than a funding crisis, it is a savage attack on human rights and birth control and maternal healthcare. A multitude of agencies say females will bear the brunt by waning support, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, data shows how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with millions more to come. Two other major donor nations initiate similar reductions. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Faith-Based Activists Mobilize at UN Conference In the same month, several conservative religious groups meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a two-day conference held in parallel 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 shifts in US policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a grave caution that âthe venom of male dominanceâ is back, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding longstanding consensus on core aspects of gender equality around the world. Conferences on Traditional Values in Africa Over the warmer months, a cluster of meetings in Africa focused on the conventional household and state autonomy raises concerns among human rights defenders. In early May, a national leader and spouse open a large assembly to push back on what they label overseas agendas corrupting societal morals. A soon after, another continental gathering on traditional morals is held. Both events are participated in by leading Western campaigners against gender ideology, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker urges African NGOs to push back against âradical global social engineeringâ of global institutions. In the following month, a prominent church hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become a forum for opposing queer and trans rights. Advocates remark that the extent of foreign involvement has grown significantly. 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 destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a storage facility in Belgium. A leading family planning organization states that their destruction will deny a huge female population from family planning options, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move âabout exporting a regressive policy worldwideâ and âa deliberate form of reproductive oppressionâ. A renowned doctors' group calls it âcruel and irresponsibleâ. Charities attempt to acquire the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains in deadlock as the regional government refuse to permit the destruction of viable medicines. âGlobal Gag Ruleâ Expanded Bringing back the anti-abortion funding ban, which halts US aid to groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is typical of 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 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 cover diversity programmes. Additional information regarding the expansion of the rule are expected in early 2026. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have âcatastrophic impactsâ. Advocates for bodily autonomy fear that new US aid packages being arranged with states on the continent will become contingent upon adopting the expanded global gag.
In the previous year, feminist advocacy groups were bracing themselves for a Trump presidency sequel. Hardly anyone anticipated. The volume and speed of administrative decrees issued from the White House were interpreted as a calculated strategy to cause confusion and fear. In many ways it worked â there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as networks struggled to compensate for the loss left by a major funding freeze. But this merely marked the opening act. The US administration has been the key driver, aided by vigorous campaigning by religious fundamentalist networks using the moment to strengthen global ties with like-minded governments. The anti-rights movement denotes an international coalition of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that seek to undermine gains in a variety of areas. Areas targeted involve pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. 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 analyze five junctures that influenced the protection, honor, and existence of the female population. The Dismantling of USAID In March, six weeks after a prominent humanitarian funder is suspended, causing widespread distress, a top American diplomat states that the lion's share of the institution's work will be scrapped. American foreign service officers, former presidents and humanitarian and health experts denounce the action, cautioning that mortality will increase. Activists say that the dismantling of this institution is more than a funding crisis, it is a savage attack on human rights and birth control and maternal healthcare. A multitude of agencies say females will bear the brunt by waning support, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, data shows how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with millions more to come. Two other major donor nations initiate similar reductions. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Faith-Based Activists Mobilize at UN Conference In the same month, several conservative religious groups meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a two-day conference held in parallel 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 shifts in US policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a grave caution that âthe venom of male dominanceâ is back, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding longstanding consensus on core aspects of gender equality around the world. Conferences on Traditional Values in Africa Over the warmer months, a cluster of meetings in Africa focused on the conventional household and state autonomy raises concerns among human rights defenders. In early May, a national leader and spouse open a large assembly to push back on what they label overseas agendas corrupting societal morals. A soon after, another continental gathering on traditional morals is held. Both events are participated in by leading Western campaigners against gender ideology, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker urges African NGOs to push back against âradical global social engineeringâ of global institutions. In the following month, a prominent church hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become a forum for opposing queer and trans rights. Advocates remark that the extent of foreign involvement has grown significantly. 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 destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a storage facility in Belgium. A leading family planning organization states that their destruction will deny a huge female population from family planning options, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move âabout exporting a regressive policy worldwideâ and âa deliberate form of reproductive oppressionâ. A renowned doctors' group calls it âcruel and irresponsibleâ. Charities attempt to acquire the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains in deadlock as the regional government refuse to permit the destruction of viable medicines. âGlobal Gag Ruleâ Expanded Bringing back the anti-abortion funding ban, which halts US aid to groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is typical of 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 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 cover diversity programmes. Additional information regarding the expansion of the rule are expected in early 2026. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have âcatastrophic impactsâ. Advocates for bodily autonomy fear that new US aid packages being arranged with states on the continent will become contingent upon adopting the expanded global gag.