Authoritarian Regimes Target Women’s Autonomy Under the Guise of Tradition

Across Latin America, an alarming pattern emerges: governments with authoritarian tendencies are systematically undermining women’s sexual and reproductive rights. This assault is not isolated to personal freedoms but represents a strategic effort to restrict women's autonomy and reinforce patriarchal control.Macarena Sáez, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch's Women’s Rights Division, underscores that these rights—ranging from access to inclusive sexual education to contraception and abortion—are foundational for women to live free from violence and economic marginalization. When governments strip away these liberties, they don’t just attack individual choice; they stifle economic opportunity and equality.Are Authoritarian Governments Rolling Back Hard-Won Freedoms?This trend...