Background

Globally, women’s political participation has made significant progress over the last 100 years. For example, over 10,300 women serve as national parliamentarians, while millions of women actively participate in public and political life as voters, members of political parties, party candidates, elected officials at local and national levels, ministers, and civil servants. Yet, women remain under-represented at all levels of political decision-making, with only one-quarter of parliamentarians worldwide being female.

Violence against women in politics represents a violation of women’s human rights to live free from gender-based violence. In preventing or discouraging women’s political participation, violence against women in politics undermines women’s civil and political rights. Finally, violence against women in politics threatens gender equality and the building of robust and resilient democratic institutions.

Summary

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur analyses the issue of violence against women in politics, including in parliament and elections, and outlines her conclusion and recommendations on preventing and combating such manifestations of gender-based violence.