How Women’s Movements Lead Demands for Democracy in the Face of Backlash and Politicised Religion

Global policy progress on women’s rights peaked during the 1990s. Since then, many gains in sexual and reproductive health, legal equality, economic inclusion and addressing gender-based violence have been eroded. Instead of building on gains from the 1990s, contemporary feminist movements now struggle to hold off the growing backlash against women’s rights. This backlash is now a global anti-rights movement. This report explores how women’s movements advocate for gender equality in light of anti-rights backlash and attacks on democracy and civic space, and how religious politics shape this backlash. It describes global trends in democracy, closing civic space and politicised religion, and how these relate to opportunities for and objectives of women’s movements.