Safer politics, stronger democracies
Source: UNDP
Where VAWP remains sensitive or overlooked, advocacy can help bring the issue to the surface. In Indonesia, the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has taken this step through a public declaration condemning violence against women in politics and calling for stronger protections. Public commitment of this kind can help challenge the culture of silence, mobilize collective action and build momentum for deeper institutional reform.
However, Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) can quickly move beyond the reach of traditional parliamentary rules and approaches. In Asia and the Pacific, for example, 60 per cent of women parliamentarians have experienced online gender-based violence. In Australia, this challenge has been tackled through legislation empowering an independent online safety regulator to receive reports, require harmful content to be removed and hold platforms accountable. However, responses remain uneven. As abuse continues to take new forms, parliaments will need frameworks that can adapt, innovate and keep pace with the realities of digital political life.
Where VAWP remains sensitive or overlooked, advocacy can help bring the issue to the surface. In Indonesia, the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has taken this step through a public declaration condemning violence against women in politics and calling for stronger protections. Public commitment of this kind can help challenge the culture of silence, mobilize collective action and build momentum for deeper institutional reform.
However, Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) can quickly move beyond the reach of traditional parliamentary rules and approaches. In Asia and the Pacific, for example, 60 per cent of women parliamentarians have experienced online gender-based violence. In Australia, this challenge has been tackled through legislation empowering an independent online safety regulator to receive reports, require harmful content to be removed and hold platforms accountable. However, responses remain uneven. As abuse continues to take new forms, parliaments will need frameworks that can adapt, innovate and keep pace with the realities of digital political life.