Advocacy & Lobbying
Backlash, Misogyny in the Digital Age, directed by Léa Clermont-Dion and Guylaine Maroist: A shocking story of four women leaders whose lives are overturned by cyberviolence. They share a common cause: refusing to be silenced.
In fall 2017, the MeToo hashtag shook the planet, sparking an unprecedented wave of sexual assault accusations in the Western world. Now a storm of virulent misogyny rages on, flooding our screens with harassment, defamation, lynching, sextortion, the sharing of intimate photographs, rape and deaths threats… According to the UN, 73% of women are abused online.
The feature-length documentary Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age follows four women and one man whose lives have been particularly affected by online violence: Laura Boldrini, the most harassed female politician in Italy; Kiah Morris, an African-American politician in the state of Vermont who resigned following severe harassment and threats from right-wing extremists; Marion Séclin, a French YouTuber who received more than 40,000 sexist messages, including rape and death threats; Laurence Gratton, a young teacher in Quebec who was harassed for more than five years by a former colleague; and Glen Canning, the father of Rehtaeh Parsons, a young girl who took her life after photos of her rape were spread online.
What is it like to live with this so-called “virtual” violence? That is what this important film attempts to show by closely following the victims in their daily lives. Like in a thriller, we see in real time the waves of hate they are subjected to, their resulting fear, and how they no longer feel safe in public spaces. We see lives marked by a loss of confidence and shame.
Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age also shows how each of these women, and this man in the name of his late daughter, are fighting the same battle. They share a common cause: to refuse to be silent. Their journeys intertwine. They are demanding widespread accountability from those who allow the propagation of such hate, whether it be the tech giants, the state, or the perpetrators themselves.
Why this unrelenting and systematic discrimination against women? Can we shift the age-old paradigm?
Click here to see the trailer and learn more about the film. Published on 6 December 2024.
Backlash, Misogyny in the Digital Age, directed by Léa Clermont-Dion and Guylaine Maroist: A shocking story of four women leaders whose lives are overturned by cyberviolence. They share a common cause: refusing to be silenced.
In fall 2017, the MeToo hashtag shook the planet, sparking an unprecedented wave of sexual assault accusations in the Western world. Now a storm of virulent misogyny rages on, flooding our screens with harassment, defamation, lynching, sextortion, the sharing of intimate photographs, rape and deaths threats… According to the UN, 73% of women are abused online.
The feature-length documentary Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age follows four women and one man whose lives have been particularly affected by online violence: Laura Boldrini, the most harassed female politician in Italy; Kiah Morris, an African-American politician in the state of Vermont who resigned following severe harassment and threats from right-wing extremists; Marion Séclin, a French YouTuber who received more than 40,000 sexist messages, including rape and death threats; Laurence Gratton, a young teacher in Quebec who was harassed for more than five years by a former colleague; and Glen Canning, the father of Rehtaeh Parsons, a young girl who took her life after photos of her rape were spread online.
What is it like to live with this so-called “virtual” violence? That is what this important film attempts to show by closely following the victims in their daily lives. Like in a thriller, we see in real time the waves of hate they are subjected to, their resulting fear, and how they no longer feel safe in public spaces. We see lives marked by a loss of confidence and shame.
Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age also shows how each of these women, and this man in the name of his late daughter, are fighting the same battle. They share a common cause: to refuse to be silent. Their journeys intertwine. They are demanding widespread accountability from those who allow the propagation of such hate, whether it be the tech giants, the state, or the perpetrators themselves.
Why this unrelenting and systematic discrimination against women? Can we shift the age-old paradigm?
Click here to see the trailer and learn more about the film. Published on 6 December 2024.
Backlash, Misogyny in the Digital Age, directed by Léa Clermont-Dion and Guylaine Maroist: A shocking story of four women leaders whose lives are overturned by cyberviolence. They share a common cause: refusing to be silenced.
In fall 2017, the MeToo hashtag shook the planet, sparking an unprecedented wave of sexual assault accusations in the Western world. Now a storm of virulent misogyny rages on, flooding our screens with harassment, defamation, lynching, sextortion, the sharing of intimate photographs, rape and deaths threats… According to the UN, 73% of women are abused online.
The feature-length documentary Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age follows four women and one man whose lives have been particularly affected by online violence: Laura Boldrini, the most harassed female politician in Italy; Kiah Morris, an African-American politician in the state of Vermont who resigned following severe harassment and threats from right-wing extremists; Marion Séclin, a French YouTuber who received more than 40,000 sexist messages, including rape and death threats; Laurence Gratton, a young teacher in Quebec who was harassed for more than five years by a former colleague; and Glen Canning, the father of Rehtaeh Parsons, a young girl who took her life after photos of her rape were spread online.
What is it like to live with this so-called “virtual” violence? That is what this important film attempts to show by closely following the victims in their daily lives. Like in a thriller, we see in real time the waves of hate they are subjected to, their resulting fear, and how they no longer feel safe in public spaces. We see lives marked by a loss of confidence and shame.
Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age also shows how each of these women, and this man in the name of his late daughter, are fighting the same battle. They share a common cause: to refuse to be silent. Their journeys intertwine. They are demanding widespread accountability from those who allow the propagation of such hate, whether it be the tech giants, the state, or the perpetrators themselves.
Why this unrelenting and systematic discrimination against women? Can we shift the age-old paradigm?
Click here to see the trailer and learn more about the film. Published on 6 December 2024.
Backlash, Misogyny in the Digital Age, directed by Léa Clermont-Dion and Guylaine Maroist: A shocking story of four women leaders whose lives are overturned by cyberviolence. They share a common cause: refusing to be silenced.
In fall 2017, the MeToo hashtag shook the planet, sparking an unprecedented wave of sexual assault accusations in the Western world. Now a storm of virulent misogyny rages on, flooding our screens with harassment, defamation, lynching, sextortion, the sharing of intimate photographs, rape and deaths threats… According to the UN, 73% of women are abused online.
The feature-length documentary Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age follows four women and one man whose lives have been particularly affected by online violence: Laura Boldrini, the most harassed female politician in Italy; Kiah Morris, an African-American politician in the state of Vermont who resigned following severe harassment and threats from right-wing extremists; Marion Séclin, a French YouTuber who received more than 40,000 sexist messages, including rape and death threats; Laurence Gratton, a young teacher in Quebec who was harassed for more than five years by a former colleague; and Glen Canning, the father of Rehtaeh Parsons, a young girl who took her life after photos of her rape were spread online.
What is it like to live with this so-called “virtual” violence? That is what this important film attempts to show by closely following the victims in their daily lives. Like in a thriller, we see in real time the waves of hate they are subjected to, their resulting fear, and how they no longer feel safe in public spaces. We see lives marked by a loss of confidence and shame.
Backlash: Misogyny in the Digital Age also shows how each of these women, and this man in the name of his late daughter, are fighting the same battle. They share a common cause: to refuse to be silent. Their journeys intertwine. They are demanding widespread accountability from those who allow the propagation of such hate, whether it be the tech giants, the state, or the perpetrators themselves.
Why this unrelenting and systematic discrimination against women? Can we shift the age-old paradigm?
Click here to see the trailer and learn more about the film. Published on 6 December 2024.
With Indonesia’s 2024 presidential, legislative and regional elections behind us, attention now shifts to the new administration under President Prabowo Subianto. These elections showcased the resilience of Indonesia’s democratic spirit but also revealed ongoing challenges for women in politics, particularly the alarming rise of online violence that demands immediate attention.
As the world observes the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, it is crucial to reflect on these issues and consider how Indonesia’s new government can champion meaningful reforms. Protecting women in politics is not just about ensuring equality; it is essential for the future of Indonesia’s democracy.
A Nov. 28 report by The Jakarta Post, citing statements from United Nations Women Indonesia, highlighted how gender-based violence (GBV) remains a neglected issue globally as well as in Indonesia. According to UN Women, this neglect is evident in the limited attention for violence against women (VAW) compared to other pressing issues like climate change. Yet, the cost of inaction is enormous: the World Bank estimates that GBV costs some countries between 1.2 percent and 3.7 percent, or even higher, of their gross domestic product.
Read here the full article published by The Jakarta Post on 7 December 2024.
Image by The Jakarta Post
On 25 November 2024, women members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville House of Representatives gathered in Port Moresby for the second stakeholder consultation of the Joint Parliamentary Women’s Caucus this year.
The occasion, which was facilitated by UNDP with the support of the Australian Government, brought together policymakers, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, and international organizations to devise strategies for implementing policy reforms and systemic changes to promote women’s representation in politics and leadership roles in Papua New Guinea.
"This consultation is a crucial step in amplifying the voices of women leaders and encouraging collaboration across Papua New Guinea and Bougainville. It provides an inclusive platform to address pressing issues, share perspectives, and drive solutions that reflect our diverse needs. Through this dialogue, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women in leadership,’’ stated Gov. Rufina Peter, the Co-Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Women Caucus and Governor of Central Province in her remarks to the participants.
Read here the full article published by UNDP on 27 November 2024.
Summary
14.00-16.00 CET
The round table is organized by the IPU and its partners in the context of the WYDE | Women’s Leadership project “Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Decision-Making through Social Norms Change, Networking and Global Advocacy” implemented from 2024 to 2027 by UN Women, International IDEA, the IPU, and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) with the support of the European Commission within the framework of the European Union (EU) Women and Youth Democratic Engagement initiative.
Interpretation was provided in Arabic, English, French and Spanish.
Listen here to the full event organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on 25 November 2024.
“High-level meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women”
Monday, 25 November 2024
General Assembly Hall, United Nations, New York
Statement by International IDEA
Excellencies,
The elimination of violence against women is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality, which in turn is essential for fostering peace and sustainable development[1]. As highlighted in UN Resolution 48/104, women are entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or any other field. The best political system to achieve this outcome is democracy.
According to International IDEA's Global State of Democracy Indices, levels of gender equality are higher in democracies than in non-democratic regimes. Democracies provide more equal access to political power; produce more inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making; and develop more effective, accountable, and transparent institutions. All these elements are critical for the empowerment of women and girls. Data from International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy reports have shown that only 3% of democracies perform very poorly on gender equality measures. For authoritarian regimes, the proportion is 50%.
Unfortunately, despite recent advances, gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in many parts of the world, particularly in non-democratic contexts. Even when equal rights are guaranteed by law, women often face barriers in practice, including political violence, offline and online harassment, the disproportionate effects of conflict, and cultural norms that limit their ability to seek and hold elected positions of power.
In many political contexts, according to data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), women suffer violence and harassment, both in person and online, as a method of political intimidation, particularly when they challenge traditional power structures or advocate for more inclusive policies[2]. Women in elected offices face even greater risks of violence from political rivals or extremist groups. Such violence, which is especially acute in conflict or post-conflict areas, not only targets women’s well-being but also seeks to silence their voices, restrict their political agency, and deter them from pursuing leadership roles. This reduces the diversity of political representation and undermines basic democratic principles.
Recent reports by International IDEA[3] highlight that addressing violence against women in politics requires comprehensive measures, including awareness and training for women’s empowerment, stronger legal protections for women who suffer aggression and harassment, better reporting mechanisms against abusive online behavior, and safe spaces for women in political environments, including political parties.
Excellencies,
The elimination of violence against women in politics is essential for the advancement of human rights, democracy, and gender equality. Only by addressing and eradicating this violence can we create a political landscape where all voices, regardless of gender, are heard, valued, and empowered.
I thank you.
Read here the original post published by International IDEA on 25 November 2024.
What you need to know:
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To effectively address TFGBV, support systems must be integrated into existing reporting mechanisms, providing clear communication channels for women to report incidents.
Uganda is making significant strides in its democratic processes, but the intersection of technology and politics poses both opportunities and challenges, especially for women. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) has emerged as a major barrier for women in politics, where harassment, intimidation, and violence are prevalent.
As we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence under the theme “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls,” it is crucial to address TFGBV through a multifaceted approach, including communication channels, education, awareness, and strong support systems. TFGBV is a pervasive issue that affects women at all levels of political engagement, from grassroots activism to national leadership.
The Amplified Abuse report by Pollicy highlights the alarming prevalence of online violence during periods of political activity in Uganda. This violence, particularly directed at women in public life, exemplifies Violence Against Women in Politics (VAW-P). The research, conducted during the January 2021 general elections, examined social media accounts to assess how online harassment affects women’s political engagement
Read here the full article published by Monitor on 25 November 2024.
Image by Monitor
By the time the first verified reports about COVID-19 were published, misinformation about the virus was already being shared. Disinformation and ‘fake news’ soon followed. It didn’t take much time at all before distortions, lies and fictions were reaching more people, more quickly, than facts.
None of this should surprise us, since we’ve known for some time that lies spread faster than truth. The real problem arises when lies are believed. And when does that happen? Research tells us that lies are more likely to be believed, and especially catch fire, when they reinforce our pre-existing beliefs. While some beliefs are harmless, others can be weaponized, with the help of disinformation, to achieve undemocratic ends.
In the world of politics, this is already happening. Disinformation campaigns regularly rely on sexist beliefs about women, power and politics in attempts to delegitimize women who hold or seek office. Distinct from online abuse, trolling, revenge porn or even pornographic deepfakes, disinformation is a stealthier, more pernicious way to undermine women and dissuade them from entering politics. This emerging threat has devastating implications for women in public life and, by extension, democracies everywhere.
It’s crucial that we pay attention, and commit energy and resources to better understand this problem. What’s at stake is simply too important to ignore, especially now. Just when women are inching closer to a more equitable share of public power, trying to actualize democracy’s promise of government by the people, for the people—women being a key part of the people—gendered disinformation puts hard-fought gains at risk.
Read here the full overview published by Fundación Multitudes.
Multiple studies show that the use of social media has a negative impact on the political leadership of women and girls in Latin America. Social media is one of citizens' most used tools in the region to get information and communicate with others, with a high level of internet penetration, and raising a series of issues related to the low level of digital literacy in the countries.
One of the biggest problems with the massive penetration of social media in Latin America is that users don’t have the knowledge nor the tools to know what is real and what is not. Identifying gender political violence online, including disinformation and fake news, is particularly difficult considering that lies spread faster than truth , making them more vulnerable to disinformation.
In order to understand if the safeguards in place are efficient, it is essential to identify the state of implementation of the institutional incentives for women to participate in politics, in addition to looking at the existing safeguards and legislation to counter online gender-based violence and disinformation in Latin America. Specifically, we look at the current state of affairs in four countries of the region. Our research question is: What is the state of implementing the institutional incentives for women to participate in politics, the existing safeguards to counter gender-based violence online, and the existing legislation against disinformation in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil?
Access here the full report published by Fundación Multitudes.
A research study by Voice of Women Radio has shown why women don’t vote for female political aspirants in Nigeria.
The reasons ranged from their ignorance of the existing female political aspirants to beliefs that existing female political aspirants are inexperienced. Similarly, many women in the grassroots believe that men are better leaders than women.
There is also the issue of culture, inaccessibility of campaign funding for women as their male counterparts, and family upbringing, which favour males taking up leadership roles. However, higher among the reasons is female electives’ inability to connect with or impact their female electorates once elected into office.
The report detailing the research carried out in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria reveals that only 31 percent of 83 percent of female voters (that is, 8 out of 10 women possessing permanent voters’ cards) voted for women at the last elections.
Read here the full article published by Leadership News Nigeria on 8 October 2024.
Image by Leadership News Nigeria
Implementation Of The Beijing Declaration And Platform For Action (1995) And The Outcomes Of The Twenty Third Special Session Of The General Assembly (2000) In The Context Of The Of The Thirtieth Anniversary Of The Fourth World Conference On Women And The Adoption Of The Beijing Declaration And Platform For Action 2020
Read here the full country report published by UN Women Africa on 30 September 2024.
The 2nd Global Progress Report on SDG16 Indicators represents a unique and pivotal UN inter-agency effort toward supporting the realization of the 2030 Agenda. This report reveals critical trends that, if not reversed, could jeopardize the achievement of all goals set by the international community, leaving an increasing number of people behind.
Released in 2023, the first joint Global Progress Report on SDG 16 served as a wake-up call for action on strengthened efforts towards justice, peace, and strong institutions. The report portrayed a sobering picture, revealing that progress toward the 2030 Agenda was alarmingly off track, with advancements on goal 16 worryingly slow. In some instances, even moving in the wrong direction. The report, however, acknowledged some significant strides towards supporting countries in addressing data gaps through partnership, technical assistance and production of evidence.
This report, the second dedicated to Goal 16, compiles contributions from all indicators in a single document providing the best regional and global data that the UN system can offer across all targets. The data, statistics and accompanying analysis spotlight trends that have and will continue to shape our world, policy options and underscore the urgent need for action to reverse negative trends and to foster a more just and sustainable future.
Click here to access the full report published by UNDP on 17 July 2024.