Congress sounds the alarm on violence against women in politics
Source: Council of Europe
On March 25, after marking the arrival of the art installation “Thinking of you” in Strasbourg, a tribute to women who have suffered conflict-related sexual violence, the Congress held its debate on violence against women in politics. Those gathered in the Hemicycle heard a series of harrowing testimonies, but also glimmers of hope that the Congress could bring about real change in the political culture of its member states to protect and encourage women-elected representatives, without whom democracy has no future.
Opening the debate, Congress President Marc Cools pointed out that in 2024 the “Mayors under pressure” debate had drawn attention to the vulnerability of women mayors and local councillors who have suffered daily harassment and physical and verbal abuse, particularly via social media. This is a growing trend that discourages women in Europe from embarking on political careers.
Jaqueline McLaren, Lord Provost of the city of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, confirmed that the figures for women's participation in politics were not reassuring. Moreover, during her time as a local councillor and mayor of Glasgow, she herself had encountered violence. Threatened, among other things, with tarring and feathering, she had felt the helplessness and anxiety that many women politicians had experienced, were experiencing or would experience. Hence her motivation to invest in mutual aid, mentoring and solidarity programmes between elected representatives, such as Eurocity. She called on Congress members to take action and to get involved, also citing the Cartier initiative which sought to build mutual support between women entrepreneurs and leaders around the world, as well as Sophie's Stop, an app created by women for women to combat gender-based violence.
Read here the full article published by the Council of Europe on 26 March 2025.
Image by Council of Europe
On March 25, after marking the arrival of the art installation “Thinking of you” in Strasbourg, a tribute to women who have suffered conflict-related sexual violence, the Congress held its debate on violence against women in politics. Those gathered in the Hemicycle heard a series of harrowing testimonies, but also glimmers of hope that the Congress could bring about real change in the political culture of its member states to protect and encourage women-elected representatives, without whom democracy has no future.
Opening the debate, Congress President Marc Cools pointed out that in 2024 the “Mayors under pressure” debate had drawn attention to the vulnerability of women mayors and local councillors who have suffered daily harassment and physical and verbal abuse, particularly via social media. This is a growing trend that discourages women in Europe from embarking on political careers.
Jaqueline McLaren, Lord Provost of the city of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, confirmed that the figures for women's participation in politics were not reassuring. Moreover, during her time as a local councillor and mayor of Glasgow, she herself had encountered violence. Threatened, among other things, with tarring and feathering, she had felt the helplessness and anxiety that many women politicians had experienced, were experiencing or would experience. Hence her motivation to invest in mutual aid, mentoring and solidarity programmes between elected representatives, such as Eurocity. She called on Congress members to take action and to get involved, also citing the Cartier initiative which sought to build mutual support between women entrepreneurs and leaders around the world, as well as Sophie's Stop, an app created by women for women to combat gender-based violence.
Read here the full article published by the Council of Europe on 26 March 2025.
Image by Council of Europe