Starting with the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, who quickly implemented restrictions on abortions worldwide, the year 2017 served as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in the fight for women's rights. Despite this, the year also saw a surge in resistance movements in the United States and beyond, with progress being made in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America towards ending gender discrimination. According to UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, 2017 was a year focused on addressing discriminatory laws. Lebanon, Tunisia, and Jordan made significant strides by abolishing laws that allowed rapists to avoid punishment by marrying their victims, a move that activists hope will inspire other Arab countries to follow suit. During a protest march in Hollywood, a woman wore an outfit displaying the names of all the men in Hollywood who sexually harassed her, in support of survivors of sexual assault and their allies. In a series of positive developments against child marriage, several countries including Malawi, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador, and Guatemala have amended their laws to prohibit the practice. India also made a significant ruling that having sexual relations with a wife aged 15 to 18 is considered rape, even though child marriage is already illegal but common in the country. However, Trump's expansion of the global gag rule, which restricts US funding from organizations providing information about abortion, has negatively impacted family planning services and women's health worldwide, according to charities. On a brighter note, Chile's decision to legalize abortion under certain circumstances marks a victory for activists, leaving only a few countries where abortion is completely banned. Lilian Sepulveda from the Center for Reproductive Rights noted the progress in advancing reproductive human rights despite a challenging global environment. Women's rights leaders emphasized the importance of resisting sexism in 2017, with a focus on changing the narrative to hold abusers accountable. The #MeToo movement was recognized by Time magazine as the most influential entity of 2017. Following Trump's inauguration, millions of women protested worldwide, some wearing pink "pussyhats" in response to his controversial comments about women in a 2005 video. Time magazine has selected the #MeToo social movement as the most influential entity of 2017. Months later, a popular protest movement gained momentum as millions shared stories of sexual abuse and harassment on social media using hashtags like #MeToo and #balancetonporc ("expose your pig") in France. Bob Bland, a national co-chair of the Women's March on Washington, believes this is just the beginning of a new awakening for women. Looking ahead to 2018, she stated that women are motivated and prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.