Not ‘just part of the job’: how parliaments are countering violence against women in politics

The cost of silence

In 2023, the Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag quit politics after years of hate, intimidation and threats against her and her family. One man even livestreamed himself waving a burning torch and shouting outside her home. 

Her decision had a chilling effect in the Netherlands, especially on young women considering a political career – forcing them to question not only whether to enter politics at all, but also how visible they dared to be.

Kaag’s story reflects a broader trend. In 2018, a survey revealed that 85% of women MPs in Europe had experienced sexist remarks, image-based abuse, intimidation, or harassment. Nearly half had received threats of death, rape, or beating. A quarter had suffered sexual violence, and 15% had been physically attacked.

Political polarisation and deepening mistrust have escalated abuse against politicians in recent years.  The impact on women, especially groups of women already most underrepresented in public life, carries stark implications for democracy itself.

But this trend isn’t inevitable - and parliaments can do three things to push back: 

Make the issue visible

Violence against women in politics is often hidden. Many don’t talk about the abuse they face, fearing that they’ll be seen as weak or ‘not up to the job’, and official data collection is patchy.

Parliaments can break this silence. In Ireland, the Speaker held a special meeting with women Members, senior police officials and a psychologist, to share experiences and design solutions. This followed a series of alarming incidents that led some Members to stop running constituency surgeries. This sent a clear message that such abuse will be taken seriously, not ignored.

Parliamentary leaders can draw attention to the issue too. In Germany, the Bundestag’s President revealed that police recorded nearly 5,000 threats or attacks against politicians in 2024 – a 20% jump from the previous year – with women and minority MPs disproportionately targeted. She warned this wave of abuse is driving people out of politics and weakening democracy.

Training for MPs and staff can increase understanding, and explore the roles of bystanders, instigators, and perpetrators. For example, the European Parliament introduced mandatory training on anti-harassment for MEPs in 2023.

Strengthen laws and policies – and monitor their implementation

Few legal systems recognise violence against women in politics as a distinct offence with clear definitions and obligations. Latin American countries have pioneered such laws, and even developed model legislation for other countries to adopt.

These laws must keep up with technology, as online abuse often falls between gaps. The EU criminalised cyberstalking and deepfake pornography in 2024, but around the world laws still lag behind.

But passing a law or introducing a policy is only half of the battle – they must be enforced. 

Bolivia enacted the world’s first law against violence against women in politics in 2012, prompted by the murder of a female councillor and driven by the tireless advocacy of women politicians. Yet by 2022 just 3% of complaints resulted in sentencing, as the police and justice system failed to recognise and respond to the issue.

This gap between promises and actual practice is why parliamentary oversight (including post-legislative scrutiny) is vital. For example, after Sigrid Kaag’s resignation, Dutch MPs passed a motion calling for urgent action. This prompted a government Minister to account for actions to tackle the issue, and roll out a new support package against online aggression for political candidates.

Make institutions safer

Parliamentary administrations have a duty to create a safe, respectful workplace. This may mean updating rules of procedure and codes of conduct, setting up confidential channels for reporting abuse, supporting victims, and imposing strong sanctions against offenders.

Some parliaments have dedicated resources to deal with the issue, such as the French Assemblée Nationale’s anti-harassment unit. The Spanish Cortes Generales introduced a new protocol against harassment and violence, which established a new reporting procedure, explicitly defined sexual harassment (including online), and committed the parliament to a zero-tolerance culture.

Parliaments can also provide advice and support. The UK Parliament’s recent inquiry highlighted that the protective action taken by Diane Abbott MP had ‘significantly reduced’ the abuse against her, after previously receiving some of the highest levels of online attacks.

The Canadian House of Commons explicitly defines sexual harassment in its code of conduct, and the Albanian Parliament’s rules of procedure sets out disciplinary measures for sexual harassment of any form, including exclusion from participation in a committee and/or in a plenary session for 10 days.

To tackle a growing wave of online abuse, the Scottish Parliament introduced a social media monitoring service for Members. In the first ten months, it flagged thousands of abusive online comments and referred 461 potentially criminal threats to police. One abuser has already been prosecuted as a result. 

Violence and abuse should never be tolerated as part of political life, and these examples show that it’s possible for parliaments to de-normalise it. By recognising the issue and speaking up, strengthening laws and policies, and making institutions safer, parliaments can protect today’s women leaders and show the next generation that politics is a place for them.