Women MPs harassed, threatened
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WOMEN members of parliament in many countries face sexism, harassment and violence from male lawmakers and are increasingly targeted by online humiliation campaigns, according to a report released yesterday.
The first study on the issue by the Inter-Parliamentary Union follows scandals in France and other countries where women have denounced abuse in the corridors of power.
Sexist violence and harassment against women lawmakers is “real and widespread,” the report said. The findings suggested “that the phenomenon knows no boundaries and exists to different degrees in every country, affecting a significant number of women parliamentarians.”
The results were based on data provided by 55 women parliamentarians of all ages who were selected from 39 countries in five regions.
Four out of five of the women reported having been subjected to hostile behavior causing psychological harm or fear. More than 44 percent said they had received threats of death, rape, beatings or abduction during their terms.
“The respondents said that most of these acts were committed by their male colleagues — from opposing or even their own parties,” it said.
Being under 40, or belonging to the opposition or a minority group, are “aggravating factors” that put women at risk, according to the study by the Geneva-based body that links 171 national parliaments. The IPU called for codes of conduct and complaint procedures to be put in place. Women account for 22.8 percent of 46,000 parliamentarians worldwide.
“The report ... is an eye-opener, it’s the first of its kind. We have gone out to interview members of parliament, to have their own personal perspectives, from their own experience,” Martin Chungong, IPU secretary-general, told a news briefing.
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