7. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures her Department is taking, through its foreign policy and Irish aid programme, to respond to the growing influence of anti-rights movements globally, particularly those seeking to undermine gender equality and women's rights; and whether additional policy or funding measures are being considered to support women's rights organisations and movements responding to these threats. [74595/26]

The Government remains firmly committed to advancing gender equality and protecting human rights internationally.  We recognise gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a fundamental human right and a strategic imperative.

The global pushback against gender equality poses a significant challenge to strengthening gender perspectives and women’s empowerment globally. It threatens an unacceptable rollback of core values and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, while making it increasingly difficult to advance a rights-based approach in external action.

As human rights and gender equality face serious levels of opposition globally, leadership is needed now more than ever in defending and promoting fundamental human rights, including gender equality, women’s and girls’ empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Ireland is deeply concerned by growing global challenges in these areas and continues to advocate internationally for them.

Reductions in international development budgets risk undermining progress on gender equality. We believe it is important to protect resources for gender equality, including support for women-led and women's rights organisations at the frontline of humanitarian and development responses.  In line with the Government's international development policy, A Better World,  we provide direct funding for gender equality programmes to ensure integration of gender and women’s rights across all interventions.

Ireland also provides significant support to multilateral organisations that advance women's rights and gender equality. In 2025, Ireland provided €5.92 million to UN Women to support women's political and economic empowerment, improve girls' access to quality education, address gender-based violence, and strengthen access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

We also recognise the essential role that civil society organisations, women's rights organisations, and human rights defenders play in protecting and advancing the rights of women, girls and LGBTQI+ persons at local, national and global levels. Since 2024, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade expanded its funding and identified two new partnerships with women's rights funds. Annual support to the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (€1 million) and the Urgent Action Sister Funds (€1 million) channels much-needed resources to women’s rights and LGBTQI+ organisations in developing countries.

Through our diplomatic engagement, development partnerships and multilateral advocacy, we will continue to champion the rights of women and girls and support those working to defend them. This commitment will also be reflected in Ireland's membership of the UN Human Rights Council, which will provide a further platform to promote gender equality, human rights and the protection of civic space globally.