A Spotlight on UNGA 80

The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), held in New York a few weeks ago, was an important moment of realisation for human rights. With the world facing wars, climate disasters, and debates over AI, this meeting showed probably more than ever before the UN’s role as a protector of people’s rights. However, it also faced serious challenges from far-right voices, which advocated for a world where countries work together less. Here’s why it mattered and what’s at stake.

Human Rights at the Heart of UNGA 80

Gender equality and LGBTI+ rights have been put front and centre by civil society and activists on the ground, in a world suffering from poly-crises: 575 million people facing extreme poverty by 2030, millions of people being discriminated against because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, and the climate crisis casting its shadows over the global population with greater impact on marginalised communities.

UNGA 80 might have boosted pledges for women’s empowerment, despite a global funding drop for gender programs, but the stark reality is that we are facing a very real global rollback with awful consequences for people’s lives. A UN expert flagged governments using financial cuts to silence rights defenders, a direct challenge to gender and LGBTI+ advocacy. The Sevilla Commitment (a plan to raise the trillions needed for sustainable development goals by reforming the international financial system and strengthening multilateralism) and a health equity declaration moved forward despite US objections, ensuring access to health services for all women and queer communities. These important steps demonstrate the UN’s commitment to human rights, even in times of strain. When governments come together to remind the world of the power of collective prosperity, our voice is unbeatable.

Blocking Progress

The rise of anti-rights affiliated parties is posing a major hurdle. Leaders from Europe’s AfD to Argentina’s Milei and other Trump allies are fueling hate, exploiting economic difficulties to threaten freedoms and paint the picture of a new, harsher world. For example, in Europe, a third of women in the EU have experienced gender-based violence at home, at work or in public. The impact of the normalisation of hatred on LGBTI+ persons has been felt everywhere. Numerous leaders’ speeches at the UNGA may highlight the importance of tackling hate, but this is not enough.

For anti-rights parties it has become clear that the aim is not to reject the UN, but to control it. Hungary’s 2020 Geneva Consensus, for instance, pushed “traditional values” to undermine women’s and LGBTI+ rights. The far-right has shown that building anti-rights alliances to influence the UN, is at the heart of its strategy. A few days ago, at UNGA 80, the same voices called gender equality “radical feminism”. 

Why Gender Equality Has Stalled: Political Costs of Far-Right Pressure

Despite UN commitments, many governments have rolled back on their commitments to gender equality due to political costs posed by far-right parties pushing “sovereignty” as a shield for their authoritarianism measures. At the UN, this means defunding programs linked to LGBTI+ protections. Weakening human rights language in the texts and the resolutions. We cannot let that happen.

The UN has long prioritised gender equality. But… funding for human rights programmes dropped, as governments face populist pushback. It came as no surprise, but women delegates at UNGA 80 stressed that, despite promises made in the past, gender equality is losing priority just when it’s needed most.

For instance, among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gender equality seems to have made the least progress. This isn’t a minor issue: with authoritarianism rising, inequality growing, civic freedoms shrinking, and public institutions under attack, gender equality is key to achieving justice and prosperity for all people. Without gender equality on the global agenda, the global community is in the dark.

UNGA 80’s “humanitarian reset” and “UN80” plans could end up as empty promises, like others before. So what’s the key to seeing real change happen?

Well, change is already happening, not necessarily in UN meetings in New York or Geneva, but in places where local groups, community organisations, and human rights defenders are stepping up. Kaleidoscope Trust is proud to support many of these efforts worldwide, and understands the importance of strengthening the work of the activists. The UN must support these local efforts to make a real difference, and fulfill its purpose.

Parties who frame LGBTI+ rights as a cultural attack have gained in political momentum and parliamentary representation, leading many liberal leaders to retreat or stay silent to avoid electoral losses. Governments fear backlash, Hungary and Slovakia, for instance, tightened anti-LGBTI+ laws in 2024 and 2025, citing “sovereignty” to rally support. This political course, prioritising votes over rights, undermines UN commitments, leaving women and LGBTI+ communities vulnerable to violence and exclusion. 

Restoring Cooperation

Restoring international cooperation and multilateralism is the only way to strengthen human rights. By uniting governments, NGOs, and leaders behind shared goals, such as the Pact for the Future, the UN can rebuild trust, fund critical programs, and ensure that gender equality and LGBTI+ protections thrive against populist backlash. The UK has a long tradition in pushing and implementing inclusive policies both abroad and at home and therefore we expect from the government to show leadership throughout this process.

Governments’ inaction on gender equality, driven by political fear, shows that a UN without collective will, is an empty shell. Can human rights survive this storm?  We are fragile, but we are resilient and determined, too.