Event on Ending Violence Against Women in Politics

In commemoration of National Women’s History Month, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission will host a briefing on preventing and mitigating violence against women in politics.

Although many factors constrain women’s political participation worldwide, perhaps the most alarming is the use of violence against women engaged in public and political activity.  Targeted violence against women in politics exists in all regions of the world, and directly violates women’s rights to public service and to take part in the governments of their countries.  According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, over 80 percent of women Members of Parliament surveyed have experienced forms of violence in connection with their political engagement. Violence against women in politics also affects women candidates, voters, journalists, poll workers and activists.

The briefing will bring together an expert panel to explain the surprising prevalence and destructive impact of this little-known issue. The event will explore ways the U.S. can contribute to preventing and mitigating violence against women in politics.

This briefing will be open to members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton (for Mr. McGovern) at 202-225-3599 or Kimberly.Stanton@mail.house.gov, Jamie Staley (for Mr. Hultgren) at 202-226-1516 or Jamie.Staley@mail.house.gov, or Gabrielle Bardall (for Mrs. Schakowsky) at 202-225-2111 or Gabrielle.Bardall@mail.house.gov.   

Participants

Panelists

• Begoña Lasagabaster, Chief of the Leadership and Governance section, UN Women, and former Spanish Member of Parliament
• Dr. Joyce Banda, Distinguished Fellow with the Global Women's Leadership Initiative, Woodrow Wilson Center, and former President, Republic of Malawi
• Paddy Torsney, Permanent Observer of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the UN, and former Canadian Member of Parliament

Moderator

• Dr. Kathleen Kuehnast, Director, Gender Policy and Strategy, U.S. Institute of Peace

Opening Remarks

• Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Executive Committee, TLHRC
• Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Member, TLHRC
• Rep. Salud Carbajal, Member, TLHRC

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