🔗 Share this article Five Pivotal Events in the Attack on the Rights of Women and Girls in 2025. A year ago, groups dedicated to gender equality were anticipating a new Trump administration. Scarcely anyone expected. The sheer number and rapid pace of administrative decrees originating in the White House were regarded as a deliberate tactic to overwhelm and create panic. In many ways it worked – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as agencies hastened to plug the hole left by a major funding freeze. But the situation was about to worsen. The Trump administration has been the primary force, aided by relentless activism by ultra-conservative groups using the moment to build worldwide connections with political allies. The anti-rights movement describes a worldwide alliance of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as affluent financiers and clans that seek to undermine gains in a variety of areas. This covers access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They achieve this through lobbying governments, supporting court cases, discrediting international efforts to foster equity, propagating misinformation, and bankrolling sympathetic charities. We analyze five instances that influenced the security, respect, and well-being of women and girls. USAID Effectively Dismantled In March, six weeks after a key American development organization is its funds are blocked, causing international chaos, a top American diplomat states that nearly all of the organization's initiatives will be axed. Career diplomats, ex-presidents and relief and public health authorities decry the decision, cautioning that mortality will increase. Human rights advocates say that the demise of the agency is not just a financial shortfall, it is a savage attack on human rights and access to contraception and reproductive health services. A multitude of agencies say females will bear the brunt by reduced funding, especially in war zones. As the year ends, reports confirm how a tremendous loss of life has already occurred from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with millions more to come. Two other major donor nations follow with their own cuts. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Christian-Right Groups Raise Voices During UN Women Summit In March, several conservative religious groups meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a biannual gathering held in parallel with the UN's flagship gender equality meeting. It is an forum to discuss methods on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they welcome new Washington directives on LGBTQ issues, inclusion, and reproductive rights. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a somber alert that “the venom of male dominance” is back, after a study indicates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding historic agreements on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the summer, a sequence of gatherings in Africa centered on the conservative family structures and national independence sparks alarm among equality campaigners. In early May, a president and first lady open a significant conference to push back on what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A few days later, another continental gathering on family values is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to stand up to “worldwide progressive social restructuring” of international organizations. In June, a major religious institution hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Campaigners note that the level of external participation 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 dispose of millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a European depot. A major reproductive health federation states that their destruction will deny countless females from family planning options, and lead to a public health crisis of unwanted pregnancies. The organization labels the plan an dogmatic choice “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” and “an intentional act of reproductive coercion”. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can be distributed to those in need, but the US refuses all offers. The situation remains unresolved as host nation officials will not allow the destruction of viable medicines. ‘Global Gag Rule’ Expanded Reviving the global gag rule, which halts US aid to groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It came as no surprise when the rule was reinstated in January. The administration also reaffirmed membership in a pro-life declaration. But in October, 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 include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the broader enforcement are anticipated next year. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have “catastrophic impacts”. Pro-choice activists fear that fresh American assistance deals being negotiated with countries in Africa will become dependent on agreeing to the expanded global gag.
A year ago, groups dedicated to gender equality were anticipating a new Trump administration. Scarcely anyone expected. The sheer number and rapid pace of administrative decrees originating in the White House were regarded as a deliberate tactic to overwhelm and create panic. In many ways it worked – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as agencies hastened to plug the hole left by a major funding freeze. But the situation was about to worsen. The Trump administration has been the primary force, aided by relentless activism by ultra-conservative groups using the moment to build worldwide connections with political allies. The anti-rights movement describes a worldwide alliance of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as affluent financiers and clans that seek to undermine gains in a variety of areas. This covers access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They achieve this through lobbying governments, supporting court cases, discrediting international efforts to foster equity, propagating misinformation, and bankrolling sympathetic charities. We analyze five instances that influenced the security, respect, and well-being of women and girls. USAID Effectively Dismantled In March, six weeks after a key American development organization is its funds are blocked, causing international chaos, a top American diplomat states that nearly all of the organization's initiatives will be axed. Career diplomats, ex-presidents and relief and public health authorities decry the decision, cautioning that mortality will increase. Human rights advocates say that the demise of the agency is not just a financial shortfall, it is a savage attack on human rights and access to contraception and reproductive health services. A multitude of agencies say females will bear the brunt by reduced funding, especially in war zones. As the year ends, reports confirm how a tremendous loss of life has already occurred from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with millions more to come. Two other major donor nations follow with their own cuts. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Christian-Right Groups Raise Voices During UN Women Summit In March, several conservative religious groups meet in an luxury Manhattan venue for a biannual gathering held in parallel with the UN's flagship gender equality meeting. It is an forum to discuss methods on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in high spirits as they welcome new Washington directives on LGBTQ issues, inclusion, and reproductive rights. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a somber alert that “the venom of male dominance” is back, after a study indicates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding historic agreements on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the summer, a sequence of gatherings in Africa centered on the conservative family structures and national independence sparks alarm among equality campaigners. In early May, a president and first lady open a significant conference to push back on what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A few days later, another continental gathering on family values is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker exhorts African NGOs to stand up to “worldwide progressive social restructuring” of international organizations. In June, a major religious institution hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in West Africa, an event that health activists say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Campaigners note that the level of external participation 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 dispose of millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a European depot. A major reproductive health federation states that their destruction will deny countless females from family planning options, and lead to a public health crisis of unwanted pregnancies. The organization labels the plan an dogmatic choice “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” and “an intentional act of reproductive coercion”. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can be distributed to those in need, but the US refuses all offers. The situation remains unresolved as host nation officials will not allow the destruction of viable medicines. ‘Global Gag Rule’ Expanded Reviving the global gag rule, which halts US aid to groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It came as no surprise when the rule was reinstated in January. The administration also reaffirmed membership in a pro-life declaration. But in October, 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 include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the broader enforcement are anticipated next year. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have “catastrophic impacts”. Pro-choice activists fear that fresh American assistance deals being negotiated with countries in Africa will become dependent on agreeing to the expanded global gag.