🔗 Share this article Five Major Key Moments in the Attack on the Freedoms of Women and Girls in 2025. This time last year, organisations advocating for women's rights were steeling themselves against a new Trump administration. Scarcely anyone expected. The flood and velocity of executive orders coming out of the White House were regarded 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 abrupt cessation of financial support. But the situation was about to worsen. The Washington leadership has been the central catalyst, aided by relentless activism by deeply conservative factions seizing the opportunity to solidify transnational relationships with ideological partners. This opposition to progressive rights signifies a transnational grouping of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that strive to weaken forward movement on multiple topics. This encompasses pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They do this by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We examine five episodes that shaped the safety, dignity and lives of females globally. USAID Effectively Dismantled In early spring, shortly after a key American development organization is its funds are blocked, causing widespread distress, a senior US official confirms that nearly all of the agency’s programmes will be eliminated. US diplomats, past leaders and relief and public health authorities decry the decision, predicting that mortality will increase. Activists say that the closure of the organization is more than a funding crisis, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and birth control and maternal healthcare. A multitude of agencies say the impact on girls and women will be severe by shrinking assistance, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, reports confirm 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 initiate similar reductions. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a choice to reduce international development funding is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Christian-Right Groups Raise Voices During UN Women Summit In the same month, several Christian-right organisations meet in an upmarket New York hotel for a biannual gathering held in parallel with the annual UN Women gathering. It is an chance to exchange strategies on how to defeat the UN’s “radical agenda”. They are in optimistic frame of mind as they welcome changes in American foreign policy on social issues and termination of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the world's top diplomat opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that “the venom of male dominance” is back, after a study indicates that anti-rights actors are actively undermining established norms on core aspects of gender equality around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the summer, a sequence of gatherings in Africa themed around the traditional family and national sovereignty raises concerns among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a major forum to resist what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A few days later, another Pan-African conference on traditional morals is held. Both events are participated in by leading American and European conservative activists, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker urges African NGOs to push back against “radical global social engineering” of international organizations. In the following month, a prominent church hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Advocates remark that the extent of foreign involvement has increased markedly. American Plan to Burn Birth Control As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are facing shortages of birth control, including prophylaxis for assault victims, the US announces in July plans to dispose of a significant cache of reproductive health commodities held in a storage facility in Belgium. A global sexual health network states that their incineration will prevent countless females from contraceptive supplies, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an dogmatic choice “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A renowned doctors' group calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can reach their intended destinations, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains in deadlock as host nation officials will not allow usable products to be destroyed. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which cuts American funding for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is standard practice for certain US administrations. It was widely expected when the rule was reinstated in January. The administration also signed onto a conservative consensus document. 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. Further specifics about the broader enforcement are anticipated next year. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have “unimaginable effects”. Pro-choice activists fear that fresh American assistance deals being discussed with African nations will become dependent on agreeing to the new, wider policy.
This time last year, organisations advocating for women's rights were steeling themselves against a new Trump administration. Scarcely anyone expected. The flood and velocity of executive orders coming out of the White House were regarded 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 abrupt cessation of financial support. But the situation was about to worsen. The Washington leadership has been the central catalyst, aided by relentless activism by deeply conservative factions seizing the opportunity to solidify transnational relationships with ideological partners. This opposition to progressive rights signifies a transnational grouping of government figures, churches, and advocacy collectives as well as wealthy philanthropists and dynasties that strive to weaken forward movement on multiple topics. This encompasses pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They do this by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We examine five episodes that shaped the safety, dignity and lives of females globally. USAID Effectively Dismantled In early spring, shortly after a key American development organization is its funds are blocked, causing widespread distress, a senior US official confirms that nearly all of the agency’s programmes will be eliminated. US diplomats, past leaders and relief and public health authorities decry the decision, predicting that mortality will increase. Activists say that the closure of the organization is more than a funding crisis, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and birth control and maternal healthcare. A multitude of agencies say the impact on girls and women will be severe by shrinking assistance, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, reports confirm 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 initiate similar reductions. A head of a worldwide campaign network says a choice to reduce international development funding is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Christian-Right Groups Raise Voices During UN Women Summit In the same month, several Christian-right organisations meet in an upmarket New York hotel for a biannual gathering held in parallel with the annual UN Women gathering. It is an chance to exchange strategies on how to defeat the UN’s “radical agenda”. They are in optimistic frame of mind as they welcome changes in American foreign policy on social issues and termination of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the world's top diplomat opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that “the venom of male dominance” is back, after a study indicates that anti-rights actors are actively undermining established norms on core aspects of gender equality around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the summer, a sequence of gatherings in Africa themed around the traditional family and national sovereignty raises concerns among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a major forum to resist what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A few days later, another Pan-African conference on traditional morals is held. Both events are participated in by leading American and European conservative activists, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker urges African NGOs to push back against “radical global social engineering” of international organizations. In the following month, a prominent church hosts a family strengthening conference in West Africa, an event that reproductive rights advocates say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Advocates remark that the extent of foreign involvement has increased markedly. American Plan to Burn Birth Control As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are facing shortages of birth control, including prophylaxis for assault victims, the US announces in July plans to dispose of a significant cache of reproductive health commodities held in a storage facility in Belgium. A global sexual health network states that their incineration will prevent countless females from contraceptive supplies, and lead to a surge in unplanned pregnancies and dangerous terminations. The organization labels the plan an dogmatic choice “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” and “a calculated move to control fertility”. A renowned doctors' group calls it “cruel and irresponsible”. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can reach their intended destinations, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains in deadlock as host nation officials will not allow usable products to be destroyed. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which cuts American funding for groups that offer, promote, or give information about abortion services overseas, is standard practice for certain US administrations. It was widely expected when the rule was reinstated in January. The administration also signed onto a conservative consensus document. 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. Further specifics about the broader enforcement are anticipated next year. A expert in child welfare says widening the scope will have “unimaginable effects”. Pro-choice activists fear that fresh American assistance deals being discussed with African nations will become dependent on agreeing to the new, wider policy.