đ Share this article Five Major Crucial Incidents in the Attack on the Rights of Women and Girls in the Past Year. In the previous year, groups dedicated to gender equality were preparing for a Trump presidency sequel. Few were prepared for. The torrent and swiftness of White House mandates issued from the White House were viewed as a calculated strategy to induce a state of shock. To a large extent, it succeeded â there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as groups rushed to plug the hole left by a major funding freeze. But the situation was about to worsen. The Trump administration has been the main instigator, aided by intense advocacy work by ultra-conservative groups exploiting the situation to solidify transnational relationships with like-minded governments. This opposition to progressive rights refers to a global network of elected officials, faith-based bodies, non-governmental organisations as well as affluent financiers and clans that work to dismantle progress across a wide spectrum of issues. These include pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They accomplish their goals by advocating to officials, financing legal challenges, sabotaging multilateral work to promote fairness, circulating falsehoods, and resourcing aligned NGOs. We examine five instances that shaped the safety, dignity and lives of females globally. USAID Dismantled In March, six weeks after a prominent humanitarian funder is its funds are blocked, causing turmoil around the world, a leading figure in the administration confirms that over eighty percent of the body's projects will be terminated. American foreign service officers, ex-presidents and aid and medical specialists decry the decision, warning that people will die as a result. Human rights advocates say that the closure of the organization is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and family planning and reproductive care. Numerous groups say women and girls will be disproportionately affected by diminishing aid, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, evidence indicates how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with millions more to come. Two other major donor nations announce their own austerity measures. A director of a global justice organization 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 Christian-right organisations meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a two-day conference held concurrently with 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 celebrate changes in American foreign policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the UN secretary general opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that âthe poison of patriarchyâ is back, after a report shows that anti-rights actors are systematically eroding longstanding consensus on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. African âFamily Valuesâ Conferences Over the warmer months, a cluster of meetings in Africa centered on the conventional household and state autonomy raises concerns among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a large assembly to combat what they label overseas agendas corrupting societal morals. A shortly thereafter, another continental gathering on family values is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker calls on African NGOs to push back against âinternational liberal agendaâ of global institutions. In the following month, a prominent church hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in an African nation, an event that health activists say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Advocates remark that the scale of their presence has expanded considerably. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are facing shortages of birth control, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in July plans to destroy a significant cache of reproductive health commodities held in a warehouse in Europe. A leading family planning organization 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 politically-motivated move âabout exporting a regressive policy worldwideâ and âa calculated move to control fertilityâ. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it âheartless and dangerousâ. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can reach their intended destinations, but the US declines every proposal. The situation remains unresolved as local authorities refuse to permit the destruction of viable medicines. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It was anticipated when the ban was reimposed 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 extend the restrictions to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the policy's widened application are likely forthcoming. A leader in global maternal health says widening the scope will have âunimaginable effectsâ. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that fresh American assistance deals being arranged with states on the continent will become dependent on agreeing to the new, wider policy.
In the previous year, groups dedicated to gender equality were preparing for a Trump presidency sequel. Few were prepared for. The torrent and swiftness of White House mandates issued from the White House were viewed as a calculated strategy to induce a state of shock. To a large extent, it succeeded â there was disarray, outrage, and weariness as groups rushed to plug the hole left by a major funding freeze. But the situation was about to worsen. The Trump administration has been the main instigator, aided by intense advocacy work by ultra-conservative groups exploiting the situation to solidify transnational relationships with like-minded governments. This opposition to progressive rights refers to a global network of elected officials, faith-based bodies, non-governmental organisations as well as affluent financiers and clans that work to dismantle progress across a wide spectrum of issues. These include pro-choice policies, equality for sexual minorities, gender identity recognition, and inclusive relationship teaching. They accomplish their goals by advocating to officials, financing legal challenges, sabotaging multilateral work to promote fairness, circulating falsehoods, and resourcing aligned NGOs. We examine five instances that shaped the safety, dignity and lives of females globally. USAID Dismantled In March, six weeks after a prominent humanitarian funder is its funds are blocked, causing turmoil around the world, a leading figure in the administration confirms that over eighty percent of the body's projects will be terminated. American foreign service officers, ex-presidents and aid and medical specialists decry the decision, warning that people will die as a result. Human rights advocates say that the closure of the organization is greater than a budgetary issue, it is a brutal assault on fundamental freedoms and family planning and reproductive care. Numerous groups say women and girls will be disproportionately affected by diminishing aid, especially in conflict areas. As the year ends, evidence indicates how hundreds of thousands of people have already died from sickness, hunger, poor pregnancy healthcare, and abuse targeting females, with millions more to come. Two other major donor nations announce their own austerity measures. A director of a global justice organization 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 Christian-right organisations meet in an high-end hotel in NYC for a two-day conference held concurrently with 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 celebrate changes in American foreign policy on gender, diversity and abortion. Meanwhile, the UN secretary general opens the gender equality forum with a stark warning that âthe poison of patriarchyâ is back, after a report shows that anti-rights actors are systematically eroding longstanding consensus on fundamental freedoms for women around the world. African âFamily Valuesâ Conferences Over the warmer months, a cluster of meetings in Africa centered on the conventional household and state autonomy raises concerns among human rights defenders. In the start of May, a head of state and partner open a large assembly to combat what they label overseas agendas corrupting societal morals. A shortly thereafter, another continental gathering on family values is held. Both events are graced by leading US and European anti-rights figures, including leaders of well-known groups. One speaker calls on African NGOs to push back against âinternational liberal agendaâ of global institutions. In the following month, a prominent church hosts a gathering about supporting traditional households in an African nation, an event that health activists say has become an anti-LGBTQ, anti-gender platform. Advocates remark that the scale of their presence has expanded considerably. US Threat to Destroy Contraceptives As clinics in sub-Saharan Africa report they are facing shortages of birth control, including post-rape care packages, the US announces in July plans to destroy a significant cache of reproductive health commodities held in a warehouse in Europe. A leading family planning organization 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 politically-motivated move âabout exporting a regressive policy worldwideâ and âa calculated move to control fertilityâ. A prominent medical humanitarian organization calls it âheartless and dangerousâ. NGOs offer to buy the contraceptives so they can reach their intended destinations, but the US declines every proposal. The situation remains unresolved as local authorities refuse to permit the destruction of viable medicines. Broader Restrictions on Aid Reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits Washington's support for groups that provide, advocate for or advise on abortion services overseas, is commonplace under certain US administrations. It was anticipated when the ban was reimposed 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 extend the restrictions to include national governments and international bodies in addition to NGOs, and to include DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) projects. Additional information regarding the policy's widened application are likely forthcoming. A leader in global maternal health says widening the scope will have âunimaginable effectsâ. Reproductive justice campaigners fear that fresh American assistance deals being arranged with states on the continent will become dependent on agreeing to the new, wider policy.