What happens to democracy when participation comes at a personal cost? 

For many women in politics, harassment, intimidation and abuse are not isolated incidents, but part of their everyday environment. Across regions, between 75 and 85 percent of women parliamentarians report experiencing psychological violence. But the challenge comes not only from outside political institutions. Substantial proportions of women parliamentary staff report sexual violence in the workplace, with rates ranging from 36 percent in the Asia-Pacific region to 46 percent in Africa. More concerning still, violence against women in politics (VAWP) increasingly extends into digital spaces, where online harassment and attacks amplify existing inequalities, creating new barriers to participation.

Such abuses violate rights, deter leadership, silence voices and erode trust in public institutions. But the consequences go even further: when women are pushed out of political spaces, democracy itself is weakened. Parliaments, as lawmakers and standard-setters, are central to addressing VAWP. Not only are they uniquely positioned to shape legal frameworks, they also shape the norms and cultures that define political life, alongside being employers themselves. For these reasons, it is imperative that parliaments themselves must both champion and demonstrate the changes required.

From policies to practice

Encouragingly, a growing number of parliaments are beginning to translate this responsibility into concrete institutional action. In Canada and the United Kingdom, this has included the introduction or reinforcement of codes of conduct that set clear standards of behaviour and define sanctions for harassment and abuse. Alongside these measures, parliaments such as Australia’s are establishing independent and confidential complaints mechanisms to ensure that incidents can be reported safely and addressed in a credible, survivor‑centred way.

For those affected, protection must also mean access to trusted support. France’s Senate offers one model, with external professional services as a first point of contact for staff and senators affected by harassment. This approach separates listening and support from ethics review and disciplinary action, helping reduce conflicts of interest and lower the psychological and bureaucratic barriers survivors may face.  At the same time, parliaments in Canada, Uganda and the Philippines are investing in training and awareness raising initiatives to help shift institutional culture, acknowledging that formal frameworks alone are not enough to change behaviour.