Women's Rights Around the World are Under Threat

During Women's History Month, we celebrate the achievements women have made and the progress towards women's rights. However, we must also acknowledge the ongoing challenges and dangers they face globally.

There is a growing worldwide resistance to women's rights, commonly referred to as the global backlash against women's rights. This phenomenon is driven by a combination of factors, including traditional gender roles, religious and cultural beliefs, and political ideologies.

The gender gap is widening in many countries due to anti-feminist rhetoric and policies. According to UN Women, gender disparities are increasing, and it may take 286 years to achieve gender equality in legal protections globally. Here are a few recent examples of women's rights that are being reversed:

In Afghanistan, women and teenage girls are prohibited from participating in many aspects of daily life, including education, employment, and even leaving their homes freely.

The Chinese government has suppressed feminists and banned feminist terms and content deemed "harmful speech" or promoting conflict between genders.

In Poland, women's rights activists and organizations have been targeted and punished for their activism, obstructing efforts to address gender-based violence and undermining reproductive rights.

The United States is witnessing a growing trend to restrict access to legal abortions, with the Supreme Court and numerous states enacting bans or severe restrictions on abortion.

In South Korea, officials are considering anti-feminist initiatives, including abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and eliminating the term "women" from policies related to gender discrimination.

In Pakistan, organizers of the annual Aurat March in honor of International Women's Day have been threatened with criminal prosecution for blasphemy by the Pakistani Taliban.

Women's rights are under threat globally, and it is crucial for governments to strengthen measures to protect women and girls.