2025 marks 30 years since the seminal Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. The 1995 Beijing Platform for Action became the global blueprint for achieving gender equality, guiding many countries toward more equal and just societies. The struggle for gender equality and women’s rights has witnessed significant advancements, challenging deeply entrenched societal norms and contributing to greater equality and justice across various realms. 

However, this progress has also provoked strong resistance from conservative governments and movements. These entities have engaged in a counter-response that seeks to challenge, undermine and ultimately reverse the achievements that have been hard-won by marginalised groups.

This backlash often manifests through legislation aimed at restricting rights, public campaigns that promote discriminatory views, and various forms of societal pushback that intend to roll back the protections and freedoms that have been established. As a result, the struggle for equality has become increasingly fraught, as advocates must confront not only the ongoing fight for rights but also the efforts to dismantle the progress already been made.

According to the 2025 Women’s Rights in Review – 30 Years After Beijing report, nearly one-quarter of countries said that the backlash against gender equality is hindering the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action.

Literature on the backlash, its causes and its consequences is abundant. Examples exist in almost all contexts and states. North Africa, Southwest Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia are well represented in terms of understanding the diverse manifestations in several countries in these regions. Some literature and programmes are available in East Africa (Uganda and Kenya) and LATAC.

The literature review revealed a gap in information on the backlash in Southern Africa. While there is some evidence of backlash in the region, there is scant research on its specific manifestations.

While they have diverse roots and contexts, it is clear that the backlash and resistance stem, above all, from the defence of the privileges enjoyed by dominant groups. The backlash has been growing in coordination and intensity, with well-resourced conservative forces organising in more coordinated ways to roll back rights in the very places that were set up to advance women’s and human rights.
 
This doesn’t just slow progress – it puts women’s freedom, safety and autonomy at risk. Recognising and countering it is one of the most urgent challenges facing gender justice movements today.

Social change occurs in a series of interlocking circles rather than as a linear progression, in the same way resistance and backlash intersect all levels of society. Using this framework, we can examine how resistance and backlash at these levels intersect and influence one another.


 

Resistance and backlash occur at four intersecting levels: government, institutions, community and personal. The PushForward4Equality campaign spotlights resistance and backlash at the community and individual levels, and examines how individuals and organisations are pushing forward in challenging, often risky circumstances.

We believe in fostering a culture of support, empowerment and unity in a world often dominated by backlash and negativity. We aim to inspire individuals and communities to champion equality, highlighting the strength and resilience of women and marginalised people everywhere.

Through engaging stories, uplifting experiences and collective action, we aim to shift the narrative from fear to hope, creating a brighter future where everyone can thrive regardless of gender. The goal is to learn from and share such examples – particularly those linked to sustainable traction and change in gender norms.

It is crucial to delve deeper into the effectiveness of resistance strategies – what has proven successful in mobilising support and effecting change, and what approaches have fallen short. Understanding these dynamics will provide valuable insights into the broader feminist movement and its ongoing efforts to combat the challenges it faces.

• Fostering feminist movement-building synergies: Gender Links will use its convening power and network strengths to collaborate with partners – including the SADC Gender Protocol Alliance, WOSSO Fellows, the Marang Fund (a new European Union-funded fund that aims to improve the lives of LGBTIQ people in Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Namibia), media organisations and African Women in Dialogue – to foster collective advocacy impact
• The SADC Gender Protocol Alliance is a coalition of civil society groups across all 16 SADC states – a regional “network of networks” – that has been instrumental in advocating for policy reforms aligned with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. The alliance’s efforts have led to tangible legal advancements in gender equality, including the enactment of domestic violence laws and the establishment of quotas for women’s political representation in multiple countries. Since 2009, the alliance has been actively engaged in policy reform and monitoring progress in achieving the protocol’s targets through research and advocacy
• Women of the South Speak Out (WOSSO) is a five-year project funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. WOSSO’s backbone of nearly 200 fellows, aged 18 to 35, from diverse countries, regions and backgrounds, offers unique worldviews and amplifies the voices of women and girls from the Global South. Through #PushForward4Equality, WOSSO Fellows raise awareness and document the experiences and stories of resistance strategies and collaboration that drive progressive change
• The African Women’s Development Fund is funding Gender Links to enhance its advocacy initiatives across Southern Africa through the #PushForward campaign, which aligns with the global movement for gender equality. This project is designed to strengthen regional advocacy, enhance digital literacy and foster movement-building synergies
• The Marang Fund (Marang means “rays of light” in Setswana) is a new EU-funded initiative aimed at strengthening LGBTIQ organisations and their work in Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius and Namibia, with advocacy initiatives extending across Southern Africa. Through small grants, capacity building and storytelling, the fund supports bold advocacy, safe spaces and legal reforms that advance equality and justice. As part of Marang Fund activities, 50 journalists will receive training on sexual diversity and inclusion and produce 10 stories each on LGBTIQ rights. In addition, 100 “I” stories, or first-hand accounts, of LGBTQ experiences will be written and published

• Raise visibility and communicate the urgency of the backlash against and rollback of gender equality and women’s rights
• Amplify the lived experiences of women, girls and marginalised communities facing backlash and resistance
• Inform and build public knowledge on the drivers, manifestations and counterstrategies – drawn primarily from lived and activist experiences
• Mobilise action and solidarity for the rights of women and marginalised groups across Southern Africa and beyond

The #PushForward4Equality campaign is designed to mobilise a collective voice and action for transformative outcomes that will contribute to reshaping gender equality efforts across Southern Africa.

By leveraging strategic advocacy at SADC Heads of State or Government and G20 forums, we aim to play a significant and influential role in amplifying ongoing efforts to secure concrete commitments from policymakers.

This will create pathways for more women to participate meaningfully in political decision-making, ensuring their perspectives shape the laws and policies that affect their lives.