Human Rights Watch Warns of Widespread Violence Against Women Politicians Worldwide
Human Rights Watch has warned of violence, threats and gender-based harassment against women politicians in countries around the world, saying these conditions are putting women’s safety and political participation at risk.
In an article published on Wednesday (28 October) by Heather Barr, the organisation’s Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division, Human Rights Watch said women involved in politics face widespread threats both online and offline, including physical violence, threats of rape and gender-based harassment, and often lack adequate protection.
Human Rights Watch highlighted cases of violence against women politicians in the United States, Australia, South Africa and Brazil. According to the organisation, a female political party activist was killed during an election campaign in South Africa, while a female mayoral candidate was targeted in an armed attack at her home.
In Brazil, several female candidates have filed complaints with the police after receiving death threats and threats of sexual violence. In the United States, Satya Rhodes-Conway, the mayor of Madison, withdrew from seeking re-election on Friday (23 October), citing security threats and concerns for her safety.
The organisation warned that harassment of women politicians is not limited to physical attacks. Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are also being used to create sexually explicit deepfake images as a means of threatening and humiliating them.
According to research cited by Human Rights Watch, among 720 members of the European Parliament, 46 women and four men were depicted in sexually explicit deepfake images or had their online presence associated with such images.
These warnings come as women in Afghanistan have been excluded from formal political participation and government leadership structures since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The Taliban have not appointed any women to their cabinet and have severely reduced opportunities for women to participate in public life through sweeping restrictions on education, employment and social activities.
Meanwhile, according to figures from the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women, the proportion of women holding ministerial positions worldwide declined from 23.3 per cent in 204 to 22.4 per cent in 2026.
Human Rights Watch warned that political threats and violence can discourage women from standing for election and participating in decision-making institutions.
The organisation stressed that excluding women from politics not only restricts their rights and freedoms but also deprives societies of the benefits of women’s participation and leadership.
