As part of our “Where’s the Justice?” campaign marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, we spoke with Anna Nikoghosyan, Executive Coordinator, Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD-IC). In this interview, Anna discusses important progress made, urgent setbacks faced, and the real impact funding cuts have on achieving gender equality.

1. What has been the biggest improvement in gender justice over the past 30 years?

Despite the violent context, significant progress has been made over the past 30 years.

A key achievement is the increased recognition of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) within international legal frameworks, notably the adoption of the landmark resolution on women human rights defenders in 2013 which requires to address specific violations WHRDs face and recognizes their need for gender-specific protection.

Alongside legal recognition, there is growing awareness among civil society and governments about the unique challenges that WHRDs, feminists, trans and non-binary defenders face. This includes understanding why they are targeted and the need for stronger support and protection mechanisms, both locally and internationally.

WHRDs, feminists, trans and non-binary defenders and their allies, including the WHRD-IC have been central to these advances.

Through their activism, they have also contributed to expanding the definition of WHRDs to embrace all self-identified women, transgender, queer and intersex (LBTQI)+ people and others who defend rights and are subject to gender-specific risks and threats due to their human rights work or as a direct consequence of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Collectively, these defenders have also built new definitions, principles and practices of protection to put self and collective care and healing, collective action, solidarity, resilience and joy at the centre, to be able to continue their struggles to defend rights.

Gender justice work became more and more interconnected and intertwined with other justice movements, and the need of intersectional feminist politics was widely recognized. There is a stronger cross-movement and cross-sectorial resistance, collaboration and support, which puts intersectionality at the heart of our struggles.

2. What has been the most urgent setback or challenge today for gender justice?

We’ve seen dramatic geopolitical shifts with major impacts on democracy, human rights, social justice, and the planet.

Geopolitical rivalry between powers like the USA, Russia, and China, along with growing tensions between the Global North and South, have fractured the multilateral system, unable to address global crises like pandemics, climate change, inequality, genocides and wars.

Simultaneously, the rise of fundamentalisms, nationalism and religious fundamentalism are rolling back women’s rights and LGBTIQ+ rights in particular. Decades of neoliberal globalization, focused on resource extraction and economic growth, have concentrated wealth and deepened poverty.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, tech crony capitalism has led to increased surveillance, privacy violations, and online gender-based violence. The growing influence of Big Tech and AI poses a serious threat to both on- and offline human rights, particularly for WHRDs.

Closing civic space in the form of foreign agent laws and other restrictive legal frameworks are curtailing the activities of WHRDs, feminists, trans and non-binary defenders, with laws related to freedom of expression, assembly, and association used to criminalise dissent and restrict their work.

Those WHRDs in conflict settings, defending so-called sensitive issues such as sexual and reproductive rights, migrant, displaced and refugee defenders (who face higher risks of trafficking, exploitation and violence), and land and environmental defenders are facing increasing legal harassment, arbitrary arrests, and judicial persecution, sexual violence, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings by both state and non-state actors.

Amid this turmoil, WHRDs, feminists, and LGBTQ+ defenders continue their struggle to defend rights.

3. How have funding cuts/backsliding on gender equality globally affected your work?

The WHRD-IC was already operating in a fragile funding environment, and recent cuts have raised serious concerns about our access to essential resources and long-term sustainability.

As the need to defend those fighting for women’s rights and gender justice grows ever more urgent, the means to provide protection and build interconnected resistance are rapidly diminishing.

Gender justice work requires funding, and feminist movements depend on sustained support. These funding cuts jeopardize essential services, support systems, and the long-term impact of our efforts.

 The “Where’s the Justice?” campaign marks 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, highlighting both progress made and the urgent setbacks gender justice faces today. Stay tuned as we feature more feminist leaders, activists, and experts speaking about the realities of their work, the harm caused by funding cuts, and the urgent need for accountability and meaningful action toward gender equality.