A recent tweet by Deep Prasad, known as @yug-cybera, highlighted a growing concern regarding the erosion of women's rights, stating, "> they will begin normalizing taking away women’s rights until they start doing it." This sentiment aligns with recent reports from international organizations indicating a significant global rollback in gender equality.
According to UN Women's "Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing" report, published in March 2025, nearly a quarter of governments worldwide reported experiencing a backlash on women's rights in 2024. This trend underscores a challenging period for gender equality, despite decades of advocacy and some progress in areas like education and parliamentary representation. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasized the urgency, noting, "Complex challenges stand in the way of gender equality and women’s empowerment, but we remain steadfast."
The World Bank's "Women, Business and the Law 2024" report further revealed a wider-than-expected global gender gap in the workplace. It highlighted a significant "implementation gap," where despite legal reforms, women enjoy fewer than two-thirds the rights of men when considering legal differences involving violence and childcare. The report indicated that countries, on average, have established less than 40% of the systems needed for full implementation of equal-opportunity laws, with women's safety being a particularly weak area.
Human Rights Watch also reported serious setbacks in women and girls' rights across various regions, from the United States to the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2024 and looking into 2025. Specific instances include new laws in some countries curtailing remaining rights, such as a December 2024 ban on women's ability to train as nurses and midwives in certain areas, severely restricting access to healthcare. The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security noted that if current trends persist, gender equality might not be achieved until the 22nd Century.
These reports collectively paint a picture of a concerning global trend where hard-won freedoms for women are facing increased restrictions and a normalization of their curtailment. International bodies are calling for reinforced commitments from governments, businesses, and civil society to counter this pushback and ensure the continued advancement of women's rights globally.