On November 5, 2024, nearly 244 million voters will go to the polls to elect the next president of the United States. Polls predict a close race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, particularly in key states where the outcome will be decided by a few votes. A victory for Donald Trump would have major repercussions far beyond US borders, with consequences for sexual and reproductive health rights and gender equality both nationally and internationally.
Sexual and reproductive rights and health: a deepening divide in the 2024 campaign
The issue of abortion rights has always been a point of contention between Democrats and Republicans, but the divide widened further after the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which brought abortion back into the spotlight. This decision had international repercussions, giving the debate global reach. During the televised debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on September 10, 2024, the former US president spread misinformation about abortion, which was refuted by ABC journalist Linsey Davis, along with other racist statements made by the Republican candidate. This is a typical strategy used by anti-rights activists to demonize abortion rights and stigmatize women who seek abortions and the healthcare professionals who assist them. In response to Donald Trump's misogynistic remarks, Kamala Harris promised at the launch of her campaign to place abortion rights at the heart of her electoral strategy, stating in her first speech in July that she would sign any bill passed by Congress to restore this right. In her report on the backlash, Equipop had already highlighted the dangers of the Trump administration for the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ people. Under his mandate, laws on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) have been attacked, such as contraceptive coverage, equal pay, measures against gender-based and sexual violence, and legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people. The Global Gag Rule suspended US funding for international abortion access. These actions are only the beginning of what a second Trump term could bring, which would be even more catastrophic if he implements Project 2025.
If implemented, “Project 2025” will cause an international shockwave.
This month, RFSU, Equipop's partner in Sweden, published a report warning about "Project 2025," an ultra-conservative plan that aims to tighten anti-gender laws and undermine sexual and reproductive rights. Developed under the auspices of the highly influential ultra-conservative think tank "Heritage Foundation" and supported by more than 80 associations and organizations, including Catholic and Evangelical groups, "Project 2025" presents itself as a roadmap for the next administration in power in 2025. Despite Donald Trump's public denials of his involvement in Project 2025, a CNN investigation reveals that at least 140 former members of his administration contributed to it. The project presents a series of policy recommendations that go far beyond restricting abortion, including plans to limit access to contraception. If implemented, this project will have consequences for maternal health and gender equality more broadly. The program is based on an extreme interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, the "unitary executive theory," which centralizes executive power around the president. Engaged in several intergovernmental processes, such as the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the G7, Equipop has witnessed the Trump administration's attempts to sabotage negotiations, questioning such basic elements as the use of the word "gender." Together with its partners, Equipop has been mobilizing for years against this "backlash." Beyond the figurehead of Donald Trump, anti-rights movements are organizing on every continent. Other leaders, such as Javier Milei in Argentina, who intends to repeal the law guaranteeing the right to abortion, or Viktor Orbán, who tightened legislation in 2022 by forcing women to listen to the heartbeat of the fetus before an abortion, share this anti-choice and retrograde agenda. In Côte d'Ivoire, homophobic rhetoric is on the rise, while in Senegal, a total ban on abortion, influenced by anti-choice movements, remains in force. In France, too, far-right ideas are gaining dangerous ground, as evidenced by the rise of the National Rally (RN) and the outbidding of the Republicans (LR), who are adopting increasingly conservative rhetoric, particularly on abortion and LGBTQIA+ rights. During the debates on the constitutionalization of abortion, the LR proposed an amendment invoking "the protection of unborn life." If implemented, "Project 2025" will send shockwaves around the world. Its authors intend to transform American diplomacy by promoting anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ+ programs within international bodies such as the UN. They aim to redefine human rights by distorting the standards established by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international conventions. In addition, they advocate for the US to withdraw from international organizations and traditional diplomatic alliances. With the rise of the far right in Europe, there is a risk that this project could serve as a model for far-right groups within the European Parliament and in the countries themselves. Finally, this project would lead the US, currently the largest donor of official development assistance, to drastically cut its funding for gender equality and access to healthcare. For example, according to the RFSU report, US government funding currently accounts for 74% of all government funding allocated to the fight against HIV worldwide. Finally, the RFSU report points out that even if Kamala Harris wins in November, "Project 2025" will continue to exist and influence public policy. The Geneva Consensus Declaration, which opposes abortion, was inspired by this project and continues to influence the diplomacy of many states, despite the departure of the Trump administration. Today, organizations linked to "Project 2025," such as the Institute of Women's Health (IWH), continue to promote it and rally new signatories, with the support of the Hungarian government.
Solidarity with women in the United States and around the world: how can we push back against these anti-rights discourses and movements?
With European feminist diplomacy coming to a standstill, notably with its abandonment in Sweden and the withdrawal of other governments such as the Netherlands, France's role becomes all the more crucial. The recent appointment of the new French government has raised many questions among feminist associations, which are skeptical about the place that women's rights will occupy, particularly in view of the anti-feminist and LGBTphobic positions taken by several ministers. Michel Barnier has certainly affirmed that the rights acquired through the Veil Law and marriage for all will be "preserved," but this must be accompanied by strong measures, including at the international level. During his participation in the United Nations General Assembly, Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed that the next conference on feminist foreign policy will be held in France in 2025 and called on his counterparts to defend the right to abortion around the world. This is the line that must be taken in order to implement the commitments of French "feminist diplomacy," whose new strategy is expected shortly. The media also has a key role to play in analyzing these elections through a lens that incorporates gender and sexual and reproductive rights, particularly by inviting feminist experts to appear on television and in newspaper columns. Finally, as citizens, it is essential that we show our solidarity with women in the United States and everywhere else where abortion rights are being violated. In this vein, Equipop calls on everyone to join the call to protest by the Collectif Avortement en Europe, les femmes décident this Saturday, September 28, on the International Day for the Right to Abortion.
