A Quintet of Key Moments in the Erosion of the Rights of Women and Girls in This Past Year.

A year ago, feminist advocacy groups were bracing themselves for a second Trump term. Scarcely anyone expected. The volume and speed of White House mandates emanating from the White House were viewed as a premeditated approach to induce a state of shock. This strategy had its intended impact – there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as agencies hastened to fill the gap left by a sudden aid suspension. But this merely marked the opening act.

The US administration has been the central catalyst, bolstered by vigorous campaigning by ultra-conservative groups capitalizing on the climate to build worldwide connections with political allies.

Often termed the anti-gender movement denotes an international coalition of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as affluent financiers and clans that aim to roll back progress across a wide spectrum of issues. This covers pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching.

They do this by advocating to officials, financing legal challenges, sabotaging multilateral work to foster equity, propagating misinformation, and bankrolling sympathetic charities.

We review five episodes that affected the protection, honor, and existence of the female population.

The Dismantling of USAID

In early spring, a month and a half following a major US aid agency is its funds are blocked, causing widespread distress, a leading figure in the administration reveals that the lion's share of the organization's initiatives will be axed. American foreign service officers, ex-presidents and relief and public health authorities decry the decision, warning that mortality will increase. Activists say that the closure of the organization is not just a financial shortfall, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and family planning and reproductive care. A multitude of agencies say females will bear the brunt by reduced funding, especially in war zones. As the year ends, statistics reveal how a significant mortality toll has been exacted from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with a far greater catastrophe looming. Another pair of leading funders proceed with parallel slashes. A leader of an international advocacy group says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is a move to appease a political ally.

Christian-Right Groups Raise Voices During UN Women Summit

In the same month, several Christian-right organisations meet in an luxury Manhattan venue 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 celebrate changes in American foreign policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the gender equality forum with a grave caution that “the poison of patriarchy” is back, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are actively undermining established norms on key women’s rights issues around the world.

Conferences on Traditional Values in Africa

Over the warmer months, a cluster of meetings in Africa themed around the conventional household and state autonomy triggers anxiety among equality campaigners. In early May, a head of state and partner open a significant conference to combat what they label external influences undermining local norms. A few days later, another regional summit on family values is held. Both events are graced by leading American and European conservative activists, including heads of influential networks. One speaker urges African NGOs to resist “radical global social engineering” of global institutions. In June, a prominent church hosts a event focused on reinforcing families in the region, an event that health activists say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Activists observe 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 emergency kits for survivors of sexual violence, the US announces in midsummer plans to destroy a vast stockpile of birth control held in a European depot. A leading family planning organization states that their incineration will prevent a huge female population from contraceptive supplies, and lead to a public health crisis of unwanted pregnancies. The organization labels the plan an politically-motivated move “about forcing a conservative worldview globally” and “a deliberate form of reproductive oppression”. A renowned doctors' group calls it “callous and reckless”. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can be distributed to those in need, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains unresolved as the regional government refuse to permit 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 commonplace under 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 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 expected in early 2026. A expert in child welfare says extending the reach will have “catastrophic impacts”. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that new US aid packages being discussed with African nations will become conditional on accepting the new, wider policy.