9 January 2026. This decision does more than undermine the fight against climate change and environmental protection, it also endangers programmes that are essential to gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights, combating gender-based violence, and supporting civil society. The abrupt suspension of vital funding drastically reduces the capacity of multilateral bodies, at a time when the of erosion rights is accelerating and feminist movements are facing unprecedented pressure and threats.
The withdrawal of United States (US) from the 66 international organisations is compounded by measures to restrict entry into the US that have severe consequences for feminists and civil society organisations in many countries, particularly in French-speaking Africa. The targeted measures directly affect activists as it deprives them of critical opportunities to advance their causes by effectively preventing them from having access to the many United Nations specialised agencies based in New York.
Francophone African countries and feminist movements harshly affected by US decisions
The measures, applicable as of 1 January 2026, include restrictions on the issuance of visas to the nationals of 39 countries and to persons using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority, and the creation of the Visa Bond Pilot Program. Persons travelling for tourism or business from the identified countries, mostly African, will be required to post a bond of up to $15,000 to obtain a temporary visa. For the vast majority of activists and civil society organisations, visa bonds will restrict their ability to participate in negotiations and training, to conduct advocacy, or benefit from or participate in acts of solidarity. The organisations founders of the Alliance féministe francophone (AFF) have denounced the discriminatory and racist measures implemented by the Trump administration.
AFF calls on UN Member States to reject any deviation that would weaken the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ persons. To preserve the fundamental principles of multilateralism, UN Member States have the responsibility to defend rights resolutely when attempts are made to undermine rights and the international mechanisms that protect them.
The Alliance féministe francophone (AFF) is an initiative led by Equipop, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Fonds pour les Femmes en Méditerranée (FFMed), which works to increase the participation of Francophone feminists in multilateral forums, from the European Union to the United Nations, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.