Experts are raising the alarm that women’s and LGBTQI+ rights that are increasingly being eroded across Africa, as they warn of a ‘rising onslaught’ of repression. The warning, and call for progressive movements to build solidarities and overcome differences to help protect gender rights are published today in a new report from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).
The report outlines that feminists and queer movements have for decades made progress towards gender equality but now they face an unprecedent convergence of right-wing and nationalist groups, religious groups, conservative organisations, and men’s online communities such as ‘incels’ attacking gender equality activists and the legislation they have fought for.
Movements against gender rights
These interconnected movements against gender rights receive three times more funding than feminist and queer movements (US$3.7 billion for the former compared to US$1.2 billion). (Global Philanthropy Project 2020). This funding is directed at a growing network of thinktanks and organisations, including in Europe, Russia and the US, all promoting anti-feminist, anti-LGBTQI+ and anti-abortion agendas.
Attacks on LGBTQI+ rights and new discriminatory laws have been particularly acute in Africa in recent years, along with attempts to erode women’s rights using the framing of destroying the family, including:
- In Africa, 12 countries have seen a surge in discriminatory laws directed against LGBTQI+ people (Amnesty International 2024)
- In Uganda, the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 imposed draconian penalties for those engaged in same-sex relationships.
- In Ghana, a private member’s ‘anti-LGBT bill’ the ‘Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill’, passed its third reading in February 2024. If approved it criminalises LGBTQ+ individuals, their allies, and encourages the public to report LGBTQ+ individuals to authorities.
- In Kenya, laws, practices and policies on gender justice are framed as destroying the African family and morality.
Tessa Lewin, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies and co-author of the report, said:
“We are witnessing a significant increase in violence against women, a rise in transphobia and homophobia, and the harsher criminalisation of LGBTQI+ people. Donald Trump’s recent election may further embolden misogynist views and backlash against gender rights, not only in the US but in Africa and around the world.
“At this critical time, we have to come together as gender justice actors to protect and strengthen gender rights for the future.”
Beyond Africa, women and LGBTQI+ rights are under threat globally, with many examples of progress on gender equality being undermined, including in Europe, Brazil, India and Afghanistan.
Building solidarities for gender equality
The report highlights the contrast between the well-funded movements against gender equality and the significant tensions within feminist movements. It therefore argues that there is an urgent need to overcome these tensions and work together for gender justice.
It suggests ways for building solidarities for gender equality, which include embracing diverse and marginalised perspectives; increasing appreciation for how gender intersects with other issues; building digital spaces of resistance; decolonising accepted ways of knowing, and in all cases, centring care and mutual understanding.