Experts are raising the alarm that women’s and LGBTQI+ rights are increasingly being eroded around the world, 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 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.
Read more: Building solidarities for gender justice
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). 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.
Gender under attack globally
Attacks on abortion access and laws discriminating against LGBTQI+ people have been particularly acute in recent years, in Europe, Africa, South America and the US, including:
- Since 2014 In Brazil, lawmakers have introduced at least 200 legislative proposals at state, federal and municipal levels targeting gender and sexuality education.
- In 2021, President Erdoğan’ withdrew Turkey from the landmark Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
- In 2022, the Supreme Court in the US overturned Roe v Wade which had guaranteed women the right to an abortion up until around 24 weeks.
- In 2023, Uganda, introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, which imposes draconian penalties for those engaged in same-sex relationships.
- In 2024, Bulgaria introduced a controversial law banning “propaganda, promotion, or incitement” of LGBTQ+ “ideas and views” in schools.
- In 2024, the US state of Florida’s near-total abortion ban went into effect, which outlaws abortions after 6 weeks.
- In 2024, Ghana’s parliament had the third reading of private members ‘anti-LGBT bill’ the ‘Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill’. If approved it criminalises not only LGBTQ+ individuals, but also their allies, and encourages the public to report LGBTQ+ individuals to authorities.
Sohela Nazneen, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies and co-author of the report, said:
“We are concerned to see a rise in violence against women and a roll back of hard-won LGBTQI+ rights. We fear the recent election of Donald Trump and victory of many right-wing political parties in Europe may embolden a push back against women’s rights and gender equality agendas.
“Those of us who believe in gender equality have to come together, and work to resist this pushback at this critical juncture, to ensure a gender just future.”
Beyond Europe, women and LGBTQI+ rights are under threat globally, with many examples of progress on gender equality being undermined, including in the US, Uganda, Brazil, India and Afghanistan.
Overcoming tensions and building solidarities
The report highlights the contrast between the well-coordinated and 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 build solidarities 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.