by Noémie Gardais,
French movement for Planning familial
Anti-gender movement, anti-rights movement, anti-abortion movement, all terms that describe the opponents of sexual and reproductive health and rights, whose influence is dangerously growing in Europe. All of this is happening in a context where the far right is gradually eroding our democracies and the rule of law. Yet feminist mobilisation, too, has never been stronger. At the forefront of building a more equal society, despite numerous reactionary offensives, the feminist movement is responding louder, more coordinated, and more visible than ever.
When anti-rights movements draw inspiration from Trump:Europe facing the reactionary contagion
These conservative forces no longer content themselves with operating in the shadows: they coordinate, have access to massive funding, and insert themselves into the very heart of European institutions. Their aim is not merely to restrict access to certain rights, but to fundamentally reshape our social contract, our institutions, and our fundamental freedoms. Europe has become the new ideological battleground for anti-gender movements.
And for good reason: we are witnessing increasing internationalisation through a proliferation of events where anti-choice movements and the far right gather. In fact, the strategies developed by Trump are accelerating in France and across Europe. The rhetoric is the same in Italy, Hungary, Poland, and the United Kingdom: why would there be a “French exception”? Or even a European one? European far-right parties are organising, training, and meeting more and more regularly to share their common conservative strategies. In February, the far right party Patriots for Europe organised its first meeting with Viktor Orban and Marine Le Pen. In May, the Spanish right-wing party Vox, through its far right think tank Fundacion Disenso, brought together speakers from the Hungarian far right/populist party Fidesz, Portugal’s Chega, the Patriots for Europe Foundation, the Polish institute Ordo Iuris, and the Hungarian Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC). In June, the European Parliament itself hosted a second series of events marking the official publication of a document co-written by Ordo Iuris and the MCC.
The MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) slogan has thus arrived in Europe, not only in the form of the “Make Europe Great Again” (MEGA) movement, but also through a practical handbook for dismantling the European Union via the so-called “Great Reset.” This conservative and anti democratic project seeks to reform the EU and the European Commission from within, under the strict control of nation states.
Furthermore, the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights reveals in its latest report on anti-choice movement funding that between 2019 and 2023, more than 1.18 billion US dollars were channelled into anti-gender causes, coming from 275 organisations. France ranks second in the countries receiving the largest share of this funding, with 165.7 million dollars, just behind Hungary (172.2 million). The arrival of French ultra-conservative billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin in the public debate proves that this is not merely rhetoric, but a full-scale societal project ultra-liberal, traditionalist, and identitarian – bankrolled by millions of euros in initiatives to “serve and save France.” The ties between French and European agendas are also
very close, as shown by the fact that the Fondation Lejeune made a donation of 18,000 euros to the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), a far-right group in the European Parliament that includes Identité-Libertés (formerly the Mouvement conservateur), chaired by Marion Maréchal. This foundation ranks among the top five main donors to the ECR.
Feminists facing budget constraints: an unequal fight
Conversely, the current context is clearly unfavourable to feminist organisations, which are not fighting on equal terms. The problem also lies in the inaction of progressive countries, which are drastically reducing their support for the grassroots associative fabric.
For example, the French Planning familial is facing an untenable situation with historic budget cuts: the departmental council of Drôme has decided to close seven (out of twelve) sexual health centres in the department and to reduce by 20% the subsidies granted to the organisation. The department of Loiret has decided on a 10% cut in its subsidy to the Planning familial, a loss of €47,000 that could lead to the elimination of two jobs. The president of the Pays de la Loire region has removed all subsidies entirely. What is at stake here is not simply a budgetary question, nor an isolated event limited to a few territories: these are political attacks on sexual and reproductive rights and health. Ideologically driven decisions, systematically taken at the expense of associations, and therefore impacting first and foremost women, LGBTQIA+ people, migrants, young people, and the most vulnerable. This must be understood within a broader framework, in which French cuts to public development aid amount to over 40%, with drastic consequences. The real question remains: how much longer will we continue to underfund those who are changing the world, while anti-rights movements see their funding skyrocket?
Anti-gender attacks will only amplify feminist anger and determination
In the face of these increasingly numerous attacks, the feminist movement is mobilising with an even stronger response. It is essential to take a step back and observe the full range of positive dynamics in the field of gender equality. Despite significant attacks, resistance and victories are very real.
Budapest Pride, banned by Viktor Orbán’s regime, was nevertheless the largest ever recorded in the country, with more than 200,000 participants. France enshrined the guaranteed freedom of access to abortion in its Constitution. Norway passed a consent law defining non consensual sexual relations as rape, while France is currently debating similar legislation. The Italian Constitutional Court ruled that two mothers can be registered as parents on their child’s birth certificate, a significant victory for equal rights in the country. There are many such examples, and resistance is taking place within the feminist movement but also thanks to broad citizen mobilisation.
While anti-gender forces organise on a global scale, feminists are building borderless alliances. Building alliances is proving to be one of the most powerful strategies, and it is time to think of them in connection with broader networks than the usual ones linked solely to gender equality. A collective, organised response that embraces an intersectional approach is essential, mobilising feminist, pro-EU, pro-democracy organisations, defenders of associative freedoms, LGBTQIA+ rights, migrant rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities…
Citizen mobilisation is powerful. We saw it in the strong public support for the European Citizens’ Initiative against conversion therapy, as well as for My Voice, My Choice, which aims to guarantee safe access to abortion in Europe for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, through a European financial mechanism. By collecting over one million signatures, Europeans also highlighted the important surge of international solidarity and the centrality of essential human rights such as the right to abortion.
Finally, you don’t change the world without investing in those who carry it forward. At both national and European levels, several strategies can and must be put in place. This includes strengthening and ensuring sustainable new funding for feminist civil society organisations, community associations, and human rights defenders, both within and beyond the EU. The European Union must also develop an effective monitoring system to prevent any EU funding from going to actions that promote anti-gender movements. This requires the implementation of regulations obliging these groups to disclose their sources of funding, their expenditures, and
their lobbying activities.
Investing in gender equality and in sexual and reproductive health and rights means fighting for a society in which everyone has the right to control their own body, make their own choices, and receive dignified support.
In the face of the reactionary offensive, feminist movements are advancing as society evolves, towards greater equality, justice, and inclusion. That is why it is urgent to fund them massively and sustainably. Because the defence of human rights cannot be left without resources.
The feminist response is already here: determined, structured, ambitious. It is building powerful alliances, forging new solidarities, and continuing to transform our societies, for everyone.
We will not change Europe without feminist movements. And above all: these movements will not give up.
Recommendations from FIERCE
Political recommendations were elaborated by feminist collectives from throughout Europe in a collaborative research-action framework happening within the transnational feminist labs and network:
Monitoring and countering anti-gender movements
- Identify and map European funding that directly or indirectly benefits anti-gender actors. Put an end to this funding by ensuring that it complies with EU values.
- Publicly sanction hate speech and attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ people and human rights defenders.
- Strengthening digital safety: reporting procedures, rapid removal of sexist, homophobia, transphobic etc. content, media codes of conduct.
Strengthening feminist movements in Europe
- Ensure sustainable and structural core funding for feminist organisations, beyond one-off projects.
- Actively support transnational feminist networks: networking, alliances, political visibility in European institutions.
- Accurately monitor financial flows: introduce transparent monitoring of the actual funding allocated to women’s and gender minorities’ rights.
Protecting democracy in the face of digital attacks
- Regulate digital platforms to counter sexist and anti-feminist misinformation.
- Promoting algorithmic justice: auditing gender bias in technologies and guaranteeing the transparency of moderation criteria.
https://fierce-project.eu/policy-toolkit/