A new report from the women’s rights NGO Equality Now raises urgent alarms about the global decline in women’s rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and democratic freedoms. Despite notable progress in legal equality, the organization highlights an “alarming rollback” in these areas 30 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The report argues that worldwide, legal systems are being increasingly used to perpetuate inequality and uphold patriarchal structures, posing a serious threat to fundamental human rights. The rollback includes increasing attacks on reproductive rights, with notable examples being the tightening of abortion laws in Poland, parts of Latin America, and the US after the overruling of Roe v. Wade. According to Equality Now, these actions violate international treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which guarantees the right to make decisions regarding reproduction.
Moreover, the report underscores the rise in legal discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities. From Russia’s “anti-propaganda” laws to Uganda’s harsh penalties for same-sex relationships, and the US’s restrictions on gender-affirming care, these actions contradict international agreements like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which calls for equal protection under the law and prohibits discrimination.
The NGO’s report stresses that the global community stands at a crucial juncture. “Either the world takes a stand against this rollback on women’s rights, or we risk losing decades of progress,” said the organization.
The Beijing Platform for Action, which was unanimously adopted by 189 countries in 1995, set the global agenda for gender equality. However, the Equality Now report highlights that the implementation of this platform is only as strong as the political will to uphold it.
As international laws and standards face increasing threats, Equality Now calls for immediate and unified action to reverse these setbacks and safeguard the rights of women and marginalized communities globally.
