Five Defining Significant Developments in the Erosion of the Freedoms of Women and Girls in the Past Year.

Twelve months prior, feminist advocacy groups were bracing themselves for a second Trump term. Hardly anyone anticipated. The volume and speed of executive orders coming out of the White House were seen as a deliberate tactic to induce a state of shock. This strategy had its intended impact – there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as groups rushed to fill the gap left by a major funding freeze. But the situation was about to worsen.

The Trump administration has been the central catalyst, complemented by intense advocacy work by ultra-conservative groups exploiting the situation to forge international alliances with sympathetic regimes.

Often termed the anti-gender movement describes a worldwide alliance of policymakers, doctrinal establishments, and activist outfits as well as billionaire families and individuals that seek to undermine progress across a wide spectrum of issues. These include reproductive choice, queer and transgender freedoms, diverse family models, and honest sex ed.

They pursue this agenda via pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups.

We look at five episodes that influenced the security, respect, and well-being of girls and women.

USAID Effectively Dismantled

In the month of March, a month and a half following a prominent humanitarian funder is halted, causing international chaos, a senior US official states that the lion's share of the organization's initiatives will be axed. Career diplomats, former presidents and relief and public health authorities criticize the move, warning that people will die as a result. Human rights advocates say that the closure of the organization is not just a financial shortfall, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and access to contraception and reproductive health services. Numerous groups say females will bear the brunt by diminishing aid, especially in regions of instability. 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 many more millions at risk. Additional key contributing countries proceed with parallel slashes. A director of a global justice organization says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is a move to appease a political ally.

Faith-Based Activists Mobilize at UN Conference

In the same month, several faith-based advocacy networks meet in an upmarket New York hotel for a biannual gathering held alongside the international conference on women's rights. It is an forum to discuss methods on how to counter the UN's progressive policies. They are in optimistic frame of mind as they welcome shifts in US policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations opens the women’s summit with a somber alert that “the poison of patriarchy” is back, after a report shows that anti-rights actors are actively undermining historic agreements on key women’s rights issues around the world.

Summits Promoting Conservative Norms

Over the warmer months, a series of conferences in Africa themed around the traditional family and national sovereignty sparks alarm among equality campaigners. In May, a national leader and spouse open a significant conference to resist what they label external influences undermining local norms. A shortly thereafter, another regional summit on family values is held. Both events are participated in by leading Western campaigners against gender ideology, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker urges African NGOs to stand up to “international liberal agenda” of international organizations. In the following month, a major religious institution hosts a event focused on reinforcing families in the region, an event that pro-choice campaigners say has become a forum for opposing queer and trans rights. Activists observe that the extent of foreign involvement has expanded considerably.

American Plan to Burn Birth Control

As medical centers in numerous African countries report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including emergency kits for survivors of sexual violence, the US announces in July plans to incinerate millions of dollars worth of contraceptives held in a storage facility in Belgium. A global sexual health network states that their incineration will prevent countless females from family planning options, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an ideological decision “about imposing an anti-rights agenda on the entire world” and “an intentional act of reproductive coercion”. A international emergency medical charity calls it “callous and reckless”. 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 the regional government refuse to permit the destruction of viable medicines.

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 anticipated when the rule was reinstated in the first month of the year. The administration also rejoined an international anti-abortion agreement. But in October, the US announces it intends to expand the global gag rule to include sovereign states and UN agencies in addition to NGOs, and to encompass equity and inclusion initiatives. Additional information regarding the broader enforcement are likely forthcoming. A expert in child welfare says extending the reach will have “unimaginable effects”. Advocates for bodily autonomy fear that fresh American assistance deals being arranged with states on the continent will become conditional on accepting the broadened restrictions.