đ Share this article Five Key Moments in the Rollback of the Rights of Women and Girls in This Past Year. In the previous year, feminist advocacy groups were bracing themselves for a return of Donald Trump to office. Hardly anyone anticipated. The torrent and swiftness of presidential directives issued from the White House were viewed as a calculated strategy to overwhelm and create panic. To a large extent, it succeeded â there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as networks struggled to fill the gap left by a freeze on international development funds. But this was only the precursor. The American government has been the central catalyst, bolstered by intense advocacy work by religious fundamentalist networks seizing the opportunity to forge international alliances with political allies. Often termed the anti-gender movement describes a worldwide alliance of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as ultra-rich backers and donors that seek to undermine gains in a variety of areas. Areas targeted involve access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They accomplish their goals by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We analyze five junctures that affected the safety, dignity and lives of girls and women. The Demise of a Major Aid Agency In the month of March, a month and a half following a key American development organization is suspended, causing widespread distress, a senior US official reveals that a vast majority of the organization's initiatives will be axed. American foreign service officers, former presidents and relief and public health authorities criticize the move, cautioning that lives will be lost. Activists say that the closure of the organization is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a vicious offensive against basic liberties and access to contraception and reproductive health services. Many organisations say the impact on girls and women will be severe by waning support, especially in regions of instability. As the year ends, statistics reveal how a tremendous loss of life has already occurred from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with millions more to come. Another pair of leading funders follow with their own cuts. A leader of an international advocacy group says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Faith-Based Activists Mobilize at UN Conference In March, several faith-based advocacy networks meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a biannual gathering held concurrently with the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in optimistic frame of mind as they celebrate new Washington directives on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the UN secretary general opens the womenâs summit with a grave caution that âthe toxin of gendered hierarchyâ is returning, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are deliberately weakening established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the warmer months, a sequence of gatherings in Africa focused on the conservative family structures and national independence triggers anxiety among equality campaigners. In the start of May, a president and first lady open a major forum to push back on what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A shortly thereafter, another Pan-African conference on family values is held. Both events are participated in by leading American and European conservative activists, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker urges African NGOs to stand up to âworldwide progressive social restructuringâ of global institutions. In June, a major religious institution hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in an African nation, an event that health activists say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Activists observe that the level of external participation has expanded considerably. American Plan to Burn Birth Control As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including emergency kits for survivors of sexual violence, the US announces in midsummer plans to dispose of a vast stockpile of birth control held in a storage facility in Belgium. A global sexual health network states that their incineration will prevent a huge female population from family planning options, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an dogmatic choice âabout forcing a conservative worldview globallyâ and âa calculated move to control fertilityâ. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it âcallous and recklessâ. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains unresolved as host nation officials refuse to permit perfectly good supplies to be incinerated. âGlobal Gag Ruleâ Expanded Reviving the global gag rule, which halts US aid to 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 the first month of the year. The administration also reaffirmed membership in a pro-life declaration. But in the autumn, the US announces it intends to extend the restrictions to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Further specifics about the expansion of the rule are anticipated next year. A director of a major health partnership says widening the scope will have âdevastating consequencesâ. Pro-choice activists fear that fresh American assistance deals being arranged with states on the continent will become contingent upon adopting the broadened restrictions.
In the previous year, feminist advocacy groups were bracing themselves for a return of Donald Trump to office. Hardly anyone anticipated. The torrent and swiftness of presidential directives issued from the White House were viewed as a calculated strategy to overwhelm and create panic. To a large extent, it succeeded â there was confusion, anger and exhaustion as networks struggled to fill the gap left by a freeze on international development funds. But this was only the precursor. The American government has been the central catalyst, bolstered by intense advocacy work by religious fundamentalist networks seizing the opportunity to forge international alliances with political allies. Often termed the anti-gender movement describes a worldwide alliance of political leaders, religious institutions, civil society groups as well as ultra-rich backers and donors that seek to undermine gains in a variety of areas. Areas targeted involve access to termination, gay and trans protections, alternative households, and factual sexual instruction. They accomplish their goals by pressuring states, backing lawsuits, disparaging UN work to push for parity, disseminating propaganda, and supporting ideologically-matched groups. We analyze five junctures that affected the safety, dignity and lives of girls and women. The Demise of a Major Aid Agency In the month of March, a month and a half following a key American development organization is suspended, causing widespread distress, a senior US official reveals that a vast majority of the organization's initiatives will be axed. American foreign service officers, former presidents and relief and public health authorities criticize the move, cautioning that lives will be lost. Activists say that the closure of the organization is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a vicious offensive against basic liberties and access to contraception and reproductive health services. Many organisations say the impact on girls and women will be severe by waning support, especially in regions of instability. As the year ends, statistics reveal how a tremendous loss of life has already occurred from disease, starvation, lack of access to maternal care and gender-based violence, with millions more to come. Another pair of leading funders follow with their own cuts. A leader of an international advocacy group says a decision to slash billions in overseas assistance is an attempt to placate a powerful partner. Faith-Based Activists Mobilize at UN Conference In March, several faith-based advocacy networks meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a biannual gathering held concurrently with the annual UN Women gathering. It is an opportunity to share tactics on how to oppose what they term a UN overreach. They are in optimistic frame of mind as they celebrate new Washington directives on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the UN secretary general opens the womenâs summit with a grave caution that âthe toxin of gendered hierarchyâ is returning, after a analysis demonstrates that opponents of gender equality are deliberately weakening established norms on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. Summits Promoting Conservative Norms Over the warmer months, a sequence of gatherings in Africa focused on the conservative family structures and national independence triggers anxiety among equality campaigners. In the start of May, a president and first lady open a major forum to push back on what they label criminal foreign forces eroding traditional family values. A shortly thereafter, another Pan-African conference on family values is held. Both events are participated in by leading American and European conservative activists, including presidents of prominent organizations. One speaker urges African NGOs to stand up to âworldwide progressive social restructuringâ of global institutions. In June, a major religious institution hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in an African nation, an event that health activists say has become a stage for criticizing gender equality. Activists observe that the level of external participation has expanded considerably. American Plan to Burn Birth Control As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are depleting their stocks of family planning supplies, including emergency kits for survivors of sexual violence, the US announces in midsummer plans to dispose of a vast stockpile of birth control held in a storage facility in Belgium. A global sexual health network states that their incineration will prevent a huge female population from family planning options, and lead to hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The organization labels the plan an dogmatic choice âabout forcing a conservative worldview globallyâ and âa calculated move to control fertilityâ. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it âcallous and recklessâ. Aid groups propose purchasing the contraceptives so they can fulfill their original purpose, but the US rejects each bid. The situation remains unresolved as host nation officials refuse to permit perfectly good supplies to be incinerated. âGlobal Gag Ruleâ Expanded Reviving the global gag rule, which halts US aid to 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 the first month of the year. The administration also reaffirmed membership in a pro-life declaration. But in the autumn, the US announces it intends to extend the restrictions to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Further specifics about the expansion of the rule are anticipated next year. A director of a major health partnership says widening the scope will have âdevastating consequencesâ. Pro-choice activists fear that fresh American assistance deals being arranged with states on the continent will become contingent upon adopting the broadened restrictions.