“A better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and elect but to be elected”, according to Michele Bachelet. And as Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, “Women belong to all places where decisions are being made. It should not be that they are the exception”. This indicates that genuine democracy is the ability to give women an opportunity and responsibility to contribute their ideas, opinions and views on how things should be done without discrimination. Therefore, there is a need for collective partnerships in formulating and implementing policies that advocate the end of Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWIP).
According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWIP) is termed as all forms of coercion, aggression, intimidation and discrimination that aim to exclude women – whether as political party members, voters, civil leaders, candidates for elective position, election administrators or as appointees for a political office.
Though there has been a progressive increase in women’s participation and representation in politics and decision-making spaces, women remain underrepresented in politics, with notable barriers that they encounter when aspiring for these positions.
In recent years, Africa has seen a progressive rise in the number of women occupying political and leadership positions across the continent in various sectors. Women are making significant strides in breaking the traditional barriers and gender stereotypes and engaging in decision-making spaces. Despite this progress, the representation of women in political space is still far from equitable. According to the African Development Bank 2022 report, women hold 25% of parliamentary seats across the continent, with Rwanda leading the way with over 60% representation. The underrepresentation is directly related to Violence Against Women In Politics (VAWIP), which is deeply rooted in structural inequalities, workplace-related challenges and societal norms.
The UN Women and Social Research Center indicates that Violence against women in politics is a cross-cutting issue that hinders the effective participation of women in politics and in decision-making spaces, which threatens democratic participation, effective governance and gender equality and inclusivity.
According to the African statistics and as per the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU) report released in 2024, 80% of women interviewed expressed that they had undergone diverse forms of violence while in line of duty in parliament. Other statistics found that 82% of the female parliamentarians reported psychological violence, which includes threats and sexist advances and remarks. The National Democratic Institute report revealed that 44% of the women working in Local government experience both physical and psychological violence, with 67% having been exposed to sexist behavior and remarks. Gender Link reports indicated that one in three female politicians experience some form of violence during elections, with a target to women parliamentarians living with disability and those under 40 and unmarried. In Nigeria, more online abuse as opposed to men and some of the notable forms of violence include sexual violence, economic violence, psychological violence and even physical violence.
Some of the factors that promote VAWIP and restrict women from effectively engaging in politics include rigid gender norms and roles, financial constraints, security threats, lack of political goodwill to accommodate women in the political space, patriarchal mindset, weak law enforcement and unclear policy regulations and structures to prevent and deal with gender-based violence in politics.
Case Studies:
The Weaponization of Power Against Women in Politics in Africa.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Nigerian politician, has faced various forms of political violence in her career. Recently, she reported being targeted through intimidation, cyberattacks, and physical threats. These actions are meant to suppress women’s leadership and reinforce male dominance in governance. This demonstrated Nigeria’s patriarchal impunity that threatens the foundation of gender equality and political freedom.
Joice Mujuru (Zimbabwe)Joice Mujuru, the former Vice President of Zimbabwe, was a strong contender in Zimbabwean politics but faced severe political violence. She was accused of plotting against former President Robert Mugabe, leading to threats, public humiliation, and eventual political exile. Joice was forced to go into exile on the false accusation of plotting assassination and being involved in dodgy business deals.
Winnie Byanyima (Uganda) Winnie Byanyima, a political leader and gender rights activist in Uganda, has experienced online abuse and targeted threats for her advocacy of women’s rights and political reforms.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (South Africa), Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the former Deputy President of South Africa and UN Women Executive Director, has faced opposition and derogatory remarks questioning her leadership capabilities due to gender biases in political spaces. While the above violence is executed in a perceived democratic government that ought to be promoting genuine democracy they are less promoting gender inclusivity and gender equality in the political sphere.
How Autocrats Weaponise Women’s Inclusion in Politics (Rwanda Government as a Case Study)
Globally, Rwanda’s government is the leading country with the highest number of parliamentary seats held by women following the adoption of the 2003 constitution. Out of the 80 chamber deputies’ seats by 2018 elections, 61% which makes 49 seats were occupied by women, presenting an opportunity for President Paul Kagame to win the gender equality award for promoting women’s inclusion in his political system. Equally, he won the Africa Gender Award in Senegal and was later presented as the gender award champion. Despite the many reputations and gender equality awards that President Kagame has won, critics argue that Rwanda is an autocratic country with many reports, including election observers, reporting that Kagame’s pursuit of power has been through abuse of human rights, electoral fraud and coercion of opponents. More so, critics argue that the promotion of gender equality and increasing women’s participation in politics is among Kagame’s strategies to divert attention from its government’s undemocratic practices. In other studies, the reports have shown that, surprisingly, out of 75 countries that have adopted gender-based quota laws, 51, which makes about two-thirds, have been ruled by undemocratic governments. Thus, autocratic gender washing means promoting political gender equality with ulterior motives that make regimes appear more progressive while hiding behind their authoritarian practices.
Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, an authoritarian, was awarded by Reuters in 2012 as a new trailblazer for promoting women’s rights in the Arab world by granting women almost one-third of positions. Similar to Egypt’s dictator Abdel Fattah, who orchestrated a military coup and massacre, was applauded in Washington as a friendly autocrat for reserving a quarter of the seats for women in parliament in 2020.
However, in many autocratic regimes, it has been noted that women are more loyal to their political parties compared to men, and more dependent on political hierarchies and leadership, and even their loyalty might be a condition for their inclusion. The big question is, is this another form of Violence Against Women in Politics? Is this a genuine promotion of democracy? Does gender washing taint the progress of gender equality? How then can women speak up in case they are suppressed to conform as a condition for their inclusion?
Enhancing Women’s Participation in Politics and Leadership
Women’s participation in politics and leadership is a fundamental pillar in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, despite notable progress, gender disparities persist, leading to the underrepresentation of women in decision-making spaces. Research indicates that women in both local and national parliaments predominantly advocate for gender-related issues, underscoring the importance of their involvement in political processes to advance gender equality and promote inclusive democracy. For women’s participation to be impactful, there must be gender-sensitive policies that enable all elected officials to champion gender equality in public policy formulation and implementation.
The Role of Political Parties in Women’s Political Engagement
Political parties serve as key facilitators of women’s participation in politics at all levels. As gatekeepers, they play a crucial role in ensuring women’s inclusion, protecting them from violence, and fostering a conducive political environment. While political violence is often perceived as inter-party conflicts, reports from UN Women and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) reveal that violence frequently occurs within political parties. Women are often subjected to internal political pressures and party dynamics that compel them to conform to structures that prioritize party interests over gender inclusivity. This form of political violation restricts women’s ability to engage freely, fully, and equally in political processes.
To address this challenge, it is essential to identify the drivers of political violence against women and recognise them as violations of civic, human, and political rights rather than dismissing them as the cost of engaging in politics. A collaborative approach involving state actors, civil society, and political institutions is necessary to:
- Identify and name different forms of political violence against women. Clear and open discussions on all forms of violence against women will help in developing responsive policies that will address such violence.
- Hold perpetrators accountable through legal and institutional mechanisms. Parties and parliament should provide clear guidelines and structures that guide the disciplinary mechanism for any perpetrators. This can even cause suspension from the party and deny other rights in parliament.
- Encourage women to break the silence and report cases without fear of judgment or oppression. There must be an established, trusted committee that listens to and handles violence against women. There must be a private box where women report such cases to promote openness and security.
- Provide adequate support structures for women facing political violence. This includes mentorships, capacity building and post guidance for them to clearly understand their rights and responsibilities in parliament.
- Raise awareness and promote the development of gender-responsive political policies. Engage in gender sensitivity and VAWIP training for all political and leadership stakeholders to understand and adopt the anti-discriminatory procedures and protection of victims.
- Strengthening Policies for Safe and Inclusive Political Participation. This includes legal and policy reforms and a code of conduct that provides mechanisms for procedures of repowering sexism, bullying, discrimination, and harassment of any form and ensures all the reforms are implemented at all levels.
- Monitoring measures. Set up clear data collection on by form of violence faced by women and document them to help build internal capacity to mitigate the impact. Provide data and information that can be used in improving party systems and in legal and policy reforms to prevent gender-based violence.
Given the multifaceted nature of Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWIP), there is a critical need to streamline strategic policies at local, national, and global levels. These policies should promote the safety and inclusivity of women in political spaces while fostering an enabling socio-economic, cultural, and political environment that allows them to thrive.
Implementing such measures will not only protect women politicians from violence and discrimination but will also serve as a strong motivator for aspiring women leaders. Ensuring their safety and inclusivity will empower them to pursue leadership roles confidently and contribute effectively to political development.
The Role of Collective Effort in Advancing Gender Equality
Achieving meaningful gender equality in politics requires the collective efforts of all genders. Both men and women must work together to challenge gender stereotypes, dismantle rigid gender norms, and address the unequal power relations that perpetuate gender-based discrimination and inequality. By fostering inclusive political spaces and advocating for gender-sensitive policies, societies can pave the way for more women to participate in governance and leadership, ultimately strengthening democratic institutions and promoting sustainable development.
Conclusion.
Violence against women in politics is not just a gender issue—it is a fundamental human rights violation and a significant threat to democracy. While governments and political institutions hold the primary responsibility for addressing these violations, change begins with us. Women play an essential role in decision-making, and their voices are crucial to sustainable development. To achieve a truly inclusive political landscape, we must work collectively to eliminate political violence and discrimination against women.
This goal can be realised through the formulation and effective implementation of policies that actively combat gender-based violence in politics. From grassroots movements to national governance, every individual has a role to play in fostering a political environment where women can freely, democratically, and constitutionally participate in leadership and decision-making. By championing gender equality and advocating for systemic change, we can create a more just and representative society for all.
Photos: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
