🔗 Share this article A Quintet of Significant Developments in the Assault on the Freedoms of Women and Girls in the Past Year. This time last year, groups dedicated to gender equality were bracing themselves for a new Trump administration. Scarcely anyone expected. The volume and speed of administrative decrees emanating from the White House were interpreted as a deliberate tactic to paralyze through overload. This strategy had its intended impact – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as networks struggled to address the shortfall left by a abrupt cessation of financial support. But the situation was about to worsen. The Washington leadership has been the primary force, supported by fervent lobbying efforts by deeply conservative factions using the moment to strengthen global ties with sympathetic regimes. This opposition to progressive rights denotes an international coalition of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that strive to weaken progress across a wide spectrum of issues. Areas targeted involve abortion, LGBTQ rights, trans rights, non-traditional family structures and comprehensive sexuality education. They achieve this through lobbying governments, supporting court cases, discrediting international efforts to advance equality, spreading disinformation, and funding non-profit organisations. We examine five episodes that shaped the security, respect, and well-being of females globally. USAID Effectively Dismantled In the month of March, shortly after a major US aid agency is suspended, causing widespread distress, a leading figure in the administration confirms that nearly all of the organization's initiatives will be axed. American foreign service officers, past leaders and humanitarian and health experts condemn the news, cautioning that people will die as a result. Rights defenders say that the dismantling of this institution is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a savage attack on human rights and access to contraception and reproductive health services. Many organisations say women and girls will be disproportionately affected by reduced funding, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, statistics reveal how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with many more millions at risk. Two other major donor nations initiate similar reductions. A director of a global justice organization says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In the same month, several Christian-right organisations meet in an upmarket New York hotel for a strategic summit held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to counter the UN's progressive policies. They are in buoyant mood as they applaud shifts in US policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the global conference with a grave caution that “the poison of patriarchy” is resurgent, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding established norms on core aspects of gender equality around the world. African ‘Family Values’ Conferences Over the warmer months, a series of conferences in Africa centered on the traditional family and national sovereignty sparks alarm among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a large assembly to resist what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A soon after, another continental gathering on conservative ethics is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including heads of influential networks. One speaker calls on African NGOs to resist “radical global social engineering” of multilateral bodies. In June, a prominent church hosts a event focused on reinforcing families in West Africa, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Advocates remark that the extent of foreign involvement has expanded considerably. American Plan to Burn Birth Control As health facilities across Africa report they are running out of contraceptives, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in midsummer plans to destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a European depot. A global sexual health network states that their destruction will deny countless females from family planning options, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move “about forcing a conservative worldview globally” and “a deliberate form of reproductive oppression”. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains in deadlock as local authorities are blocking usable products to be destroyed. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which cuts American funding for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It was widely expected when the policy was restored in January. 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 broader enforcement are anticipated next year. A director of a major health partnership says broadening the policy will have “catastrophic impacts”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that upcoming Washington funding agreements being discussed with African nations will become dependent on agreeing to the broadened restrictions.
This time last year, groups dedicated to gender equality were bracing themselves for a new Trump administration. Scarcely anyone expected. The volume and speed of administrative decrees emanating from the White House were interpreted as a deliberate tactic to paralyze through overload. This strategy had its intended impact – there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as networks struggled to address the shortfall left by a abrupt cessation of financial support. But the situation was about to worsen. The Washington leadership has been the primary force, supported by fervent lobbying efforts by deeply conservative factions using the moment to strengthen global ties with sympathetic regimes. This opposition to progressive rights denotes an international coalition of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that strive to weaken progress across a wide spectrum of issues. Areas targeted involve abortion, LGBTQ rights, trans rights, non-traditional family structures and comprehensive sexuality education. They achieve this through lobbying governments, supporting court cases, discrediting international efforts to advance equality, spreading disinformation, and funding non-profit organisations. We examine five episodes that shaped the security, respect, and well-being of females globally. USAID Effectively Dismantled In the month of March, shortly after a major US aid agency is suspended, causing widespread distress, a leading figure in the administration confirms that nearly all of the organization's initiatives will be axed. American foreign service officers, past leaders and humanitarian and health experts condemn the news, cautioning that people will die as a result. Rights defenders say that the dismantling of this institution is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a savage attack on human rights and access to contraception and reproductive health services. Many organisations say women and girls will be disproportionately affected by reduced funding, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, statistics reveal how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with many more millions at risk. Two other major donor nations initiate similar reductions. A director of a global justice organization says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Conservative Religious Groups Lobby at UN Women Meeting In the same month, several Christian-right organisations meet in an upmarket New York hotel for a strategic summit held alongside the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to counter the UN's progressive policies. They are in buoyant mood as they applaud shifts in US policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the global conference with a grave caution that “the poison of patriarchy” is resurgent, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are systematically eroding established norms on core aspects of gender equality around the world. African ‘Family Values’ Conferences Over the warmer months, a series of conferences in Africa centered on the traditional family and national sovereignty sparks alarm among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a large assembly to resist what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A soon after, another continental gathering on conservative ethics is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including heads of influential networks. One speaker calls on African NGOs to resist “radical global social engineering” of multilateral bodies. In June, a prominent church hosts a event focused on reinforcing families in West Africa, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Advocates remark that the extent of foreign involvement has expanded considerably. American Plan to Burn Birth Control As health facilities across Africa report they are running out of contraceptives, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in midsummer plans to destroy millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a European depot. A global sexual health network states that their destruction will deny countless females from family planning options, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move “about forcing a conservative worldview globally” and “a deliberate form of reproductive oppression”. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains in deadlock as local authorities are blocking usable products to be destroyed. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which cuts American funding for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is typical of certain US administrations. It was widely expected when the policy was restored in January. 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 broader enforcement are anticipated next year. A director of a major health partnership says broadening the policy will have “catastrophic impacts”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that upcoming Washington funding agreements being discussed with African nations will become dependent on agreeing to the broadened restrictions.