This helpdesk report examines the data and evidence on whether there is a rollback of women's rights globally, and how any rollback is affecting women's safety and security. It notes that women's rights and gender equality goals are increasingly being challenged on multiple fronts, that hard-won gains made over recent decades can no longer be taken for granted, and that the report provides a rapid review of the data and evidence.

It finds that globally there have been considerable improvements in legislation around women's rights over the last two years, with the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law tracking 87 reforms toward gender equality across 65 countries, while in some states there has been a rollback of legislation protecting women against violence and discrimination. The report covers global policy regression and pushback on rights, sexual and reproductive health, economic participation, education, political participation and challenges to civic space, with a four-page summary, an annex on methodology, and contribution and case studies from Uganda and Zimbabwe.