A new report from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has laid bare the disturbing reality faced by women in politics across the Asia-Pacific region. Interviews with female Members of Parliament (MPs) and staff from 33 countries—including Australia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and the Philippines—reveal that gender-based violence, harassment, and abuse have become all too common in parliamentary workplaces. The findings underscore an urgent need for reform to protect the women who serve in these democratic institutions and to ensure that parliaments remain safe havens for robust debate and law-making.
Startling Findings from the IPU Report
The report, which surveyed 150 female MPs and parliamentary staff, found that a staggering 76% of the MPs and 63% of the staff had experienced some form of gender-based violence during their political careers. A major concern raised by the survey was the prevalence of online abuse. Sixty per cent of respondents reported being targets of hate speech, image-based abuse, and disinformation campaigns—figures that the IPU noted as the highest recorded in its global studies to date.
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In addition, the report revealed that one in four respondents had experienced sexual violence. Shockingly, over half of these incidents occurred within parliamentary grounds and were perpetrated by male MPs. Two women went as far as to report being sexually assaulted by colleagues. One anonymous respondent recounted a harrowing experience:
“I entered politics at the age of 26. Men would drink and try to touch me everywhere, while making propositions like, ‘If you show me your underwear, I’ll vote for you.’”
Another respondent described a particularly invasive incident:
“A male colleague once touched my back and shoulders inappropriately and then asked me about my breasts during a casual drink. Being single, I was seen as an easy target.”
Such accounts paint a grim picture of an environment where abuse is pervasive and often normalized.
The Culture of Silence and Underreporting
Perhaps most alarming is the fact that nearly 96% of the respondents chose not to report these incidents. Whether due to fear of retaliation, a belief that the reporting mechanisms are inadequate, or a perception that their complaints will not be taken seriously, the overwhelming silence speaks volumes about the current state of protection for women in politics.
Only 5% of those who were sexually harassed reported the incident to their parliamentary workplace authorities. In one instance where sexual assault was reported, the matter was escalated to the police but ultimately yielded no concrete outcomes. This underreporting not only perpetuates the cycle of abuse but also leaves institutions without the necessary data to drive meaningful policy change.
Digital Harassment: A New Frontier of Abuse
The rise of online platforms has introduced a new dimension to the abuse that women in politics face. The report highlights that, beyond in-person harassment, nearly 60% of female parliamentarians have been subjected to online abuse. This includes hate speech, targeted disinformation, and the leaking of personal information without consent. More than a third of respondents noted that they had been the targets of hate speech, while nearly 20% experienced image-based abuse or had personal details published online.
The digital sphere presents unique challenges, as abusive content can spread rapidly and have a lasting impact on a politician’s reputation and mental well-being. Despite these challenges, current legislative frameworks across the region remain woefully inadequate. Data from the World Bank reveals that, of the 37 countries included in the study, only 16 have domestic violence laws in place, and only 16 have workplace legislation addressing sexual harassment. Notably, no country in the region has enacted laws specifically designed to tackle violence against women in politics.
Calls for Urgent Legislative and Institutional Reform
The report’s lead author, Brigitte Filion, emphasized that the high rates of abuse are not merely a personal failing of individual perpetrators but a systemic issue that undermines the democratic process itself. “Violence and sexism against women in parliamentary workplaces is a direct assault on democracy,” Filion said. “Parliaments must be sanctuaries for healthy debate and law-making, and it is our responsibility to create a political climate where women can thrive without fear.”
Filion and other experts call for comprehensive reforms, both legislative and procedural. Key recommendations include:
- Establishing Robust Reporting Mechanisms: Parliaments should implement confidential and accessible reporting systems that protect the identity of victims and ensure that complaints are taken seriously and acted upon swiftly.
- Stricter Codes of Conduct: Clear guidelines that explicitly prohibit all forms of harassment and abuse, including sexual violence and digital abuse, should be adopted and rigorously enforced within parliamentary institutions.
- Enhanced Legal Protections: Governments in the Asia-Pacific region need to adopt specific legislation aimed at addressing violence against women in politics. This could include provisions for swift legal recourse, stronger penalties for perpetrators, and measures to deter online harassment.
- Support Services for Victims: Beyond legal reforms, there must be comprehensive support systems in place—including counseling, medical, and legal assistance—to help victims of abuse recover and continue their public service without fear.
In Australia, where the issue has also come to the fore, recent reckonings about the treatment of women in parliament have spurred debates on improving reporting pathways and support structures. Following the Kate Jenkins review, there have been efforts to strengthen these mechanisms, though critics argue that much more needs to be done.
The Broader Implications for Democracy
The report’s findings have profound implications for the functioning of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. When women in politics are subjected to harassment and violence, it not only undermines their personal well-being but also hinders their ability to participate fully in the political process. This, in turn, limits the diversity of voices and perspectives that are essential for a healthy, functioning democracy.
Opposition MPs have reported higher rates of both psychological and sexual violence, highlighting that those who challenge the status quo or represent minority viewpoints are particularly vulnerable. This phenomenon raises important questions about power dynamics within political institutions and the extent to which entrenched patriarchal structures continue to dictate who gets heard.
The fact that a significant number of these incidents occur on parliamentary grounds is particularly troubling. It suggests that even in spaces that are supposed to be the epitome of democratic engagement and public service, women remain at risk. As one participant in the study poignantly noted, the very places where laws are made and public debate is supposed to flourish are instead sites of fear and intimidation.
The Role of Social Media and the Need for Tech Accountability
The digital dimension of the abuse cannot be overlooked. With nearly 60% of female MPs and staff experiencing online harassment, there is a clear mandate for social media platforms to take a more proactive role in moderating content and protecting vulnerable users. Filion pointed out that platforms must implement stricter controls to prevent hate speech and the dissemination of personal information without consent.
Moreover, parliaments themselves need to provide better guidance and support for those facing digital abuse. This might include dedicated resources for online safety, clear protocols for addressing defamation and disinformation, and partnerships with tech companies to ensure that legislative protections keep pace with evolving digital threats.
Moving Forward: A Call to Action
The alarmingly high rates of gender-based violence revealed in the IPU report serve as a clarion call for immediate action. As the Asia-Pacific region grapples with these challenges, there is a pressing need for governments, parliamentary authorities, and civil society organizations to work together to create safer, more inclusive environments for women in politics.
The report concludes with a stark warning: unless decisive measures are taken, the cycle of abuse will continue to deter talented and diverse individuals from entering politics. This not only diminishes the quality of democratic discourse but also perpetuates a culture of silence and impunity that undermines human rights.
As one analyst put it, “There is a deficit in legislation and control right now. Without robust measures, women in politics will continue to bear the brunt of gender-based violence, and our democracies will suffer as a result.”
Conclusion: A Democratic Imperative
The IPU report sheds light on the grim reality faced by women in politics across the Asia-Pacific region. With a significant majority of female MPs and staff reporting experiences of abuse—both online and offline—it is clear that gender-based violence is not only a personal crisis for those affected but a systemic issue that threatens the very foundations of democratic governance.
To safeguard democracy and ensure that all voices can contribute to the political process without fear, it is imperative that governments and parliamentary bodies implement comprehensive reforms. These should include robust reporting mechanisms, clear codes of conduct, targeted legal protections, and dedicated support services for victims of abuse.
The report’s findings, while alarming, also offer an opportunity for meaningful change. By addressing these issues head-on, the Asia-Pacific region can set a powerful example for the world, demonstrating that a commitment to protecting women in politics is not just a moral imperative but a critical element of a thriving, resilient democracy.
As the global community watches, the onus is on all stakeholders to ensure that parliaments become safe spaces where healthy debate and law-making can flourish free from the shadow of violence and harassment.
