GBV in Politics Pushing Women Out: Study
The onset of multiparty politics in Africa has not translated into an equitable playing field for women.
LILONGWE, Malawi-The persistent spectre of political violence against women continues to cast a dark shadow over the aspirations of gender equality in Africa, writes Jenipher Changwanda.
Despite affirmative action and the adoption of international gender instruments, women across the continent face relentless resistance in claiming their rightful place in political arenas, shackled by intimidation, violence, and harassment.
The onset of multiparty politics in Africa has not translated into an equitable playing field for women.
While countries have ratified and incorporated gender legal frameworks such as the CEDAW Convention, women's efforts to participate as equals alongside their male counterparts have been met with formidable barriers.
A sobering 2021 study conducted jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Africa Parliamentary Union (APU) shines a spotlight on the disturbing prevalence of sexism, harassment, and violence within African parliaments. Interviewing 224 women from 50 African countries and one subregional parliamentary assembly, the study paints a grim picture.
In the corridors of power, 80 percent of women parliamentarians have endured psychological violence, while 67 percent have been subjected to the demeaning weight of sexist behaviour and remarks.
This wave of abuse does not discriminate, with even more targeted violence directed at women parliamentarians with disabilities, those under 40, unmarried women, and women from marginalised backgrounds.
Disturbingly, male parliamentarians, often from rival parties, are the primary perpetrators of these assaults, further marring the ideals of democracy and gender equality.
However, the blight of political violence extends beyond the hallowed halls of parliament.
In Malawi, women find themselves victims of emotional, physical, and economic abuse, stifling their political potential and dissuading them from fully exercising their political rights, be it as voters, activists, candidates, party supporters, or public officials.
Startling cases from recent years underscore the grim reality.
During the 2019 General Elections campaign, a female member of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) Party was forcibly stripped naked in Mangochi, with the humiliation recorded and shared on social media.
Prominent figures like former President Dr Joyce Banda and Patricia Shanil Muluzi, a former First Lady and ex-Member of Parliament, have also endured hate speech aimed at diminishing the stature of women.
The heart-wrenching incidents leave no doubt that violence against women in politics is far from an isolated problem.
Chimwemwe Tsitsi, an astute political analyst based in Blantyre, warns of the dire consequences of this violence.
"Violence against women in politics imperils the aspiration of achieving 50-50 representation, as it serves to deter potential women from entering the political arena," Tsitsi asserts.
The NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGOGCN), a collective of local organisations championing gender equality and women's empowerment, highlights the deep-rooted barriers obstructing women's political participation.
"Women possess the constitutional right to contribute to the country's development on par with all citizens," asserts Barbra Banda, chairperson of NGOGCN.
Intimidation, gender-based violence, and hate speech form a toxic cocktail aimed at deterring women from engaging in political discourse.
Central to this crisis are patriarchal norms that fortify gender-based violence in the political landscape.
NGOGCN’s Banda contends that these norms perpetuate a system favouring men and the privileged, particularly in countries like Malawi where familial and religious affiliations wield significant influence.
The financial implications of running for office also weigh disproportionately on women, often requiring personal security measures to ensure their safety.
Banda succinctly puts it, "In situations where a male candidate faces defeat from another male, the opponent might choose to target a female candidate, viewing them as an easier target."
According to the Coalition for the Empowerment of Women and Girls (CEWAG), a local NGO dedicated to ensuring women's rights and participation in public affairs, violence against women in politics is rooted in social and cultural norms that confine women to domestic roles and undermine their leadership potential.
"Social and cultural norms expect women to stay at home and do domestic chores rather than take on leadership roles," says Beatrice Mateyo, Executive Director for CEWAG.
This occurs in politics as well, where women are viewed as mere dancers.
"Even when they are appointed in decision-making positions, they are appointed to look for their fellow women, such as directors of women, who are not involved in positions such as treasurer-general," explains Mateyo.
On the other hand, Tsitsi claims that men's politicians' refusal to compete with women in elections and to acknowledge that a woman can be a leader fuels political violence against women.
"Male politicians' refusal to compete with women in elections and to accept that a woman can be a leader and contribute positively to national development fuels political violence against women," says Tsitsi.
Political parties are democratic pillars because they serve as gatekeepers for women's political involvement and representation at all levels.
Political parties play important roles not only in including women in politics but also in preventing and protecting women from violence.
NGOGCN’s Banda, on the other hand, complains that political parties are not doing enough to safeguard women from abuses that occur within their political parties and within competing parties.
According to Banda, the lack of a framework to defend all citizens' right to participate in political parties, as well as the failure to financially support them, subject women to a variety of abuses - however, women rarely denounce abuses in their political organisations.
"Political parties look for candidates who can fund political campaigns without squeezing the party," she explains.
As a result, women are left to find their own means of funding political campaigns, making them vulnerable as they carry party affiliations in the contest.
Following primary elections, women are not backed financially or with essential party torchbearers, which weakens their campaigns.
Unfortunately, women do not report such abuses because they wish to demonstrate their political clout.
According to studies undertaken by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Unwomen, while political violence is commonly assumed to occur between rival parties, party colleagues are among the most violent perpetrators.
Women are less likely to disclose misconduct because of fear, stigma, or secondary victimisation; they do not want to jeopardise their jobs or the reputation of their party.
Even many politically active women see bullying, harassment, and defamation as the price of politics' "rough and tumble" nature.
Mateyo proposed that political parties build systems inside their structures for reporting instances of violence in order to deal with complaints and gender-based disputes, as well as deliberate initiatives to put more women in leadership roles.
"Political parties should establish mechanisms for reporting GBV incidents and conduct confidential surveys of party members to better understand their experiences,” says Tsitsi.
They must address various forms of violence and review their internal decision-making processes at all levels of party operations, including the selection of candidates, to ensure that women are included.
Tsitsi states that political parties should sanction anyone engaging in political violence against women, and that updated election regulations will also assist in reducing malpractice at the national level.
"Disciplining everyone involved in violence against women in political parties will restore sanity, and the amended election laws will help to curb malpractices by including issues of hate speech and mudslinging,” says Tsitsi.
This would help women perceive politics as a mission to serve humanity through effective governance processes focused on improving people's livelihoods, which is equally the responsibility of men and women in society, according to Tsitsi.
*This news feature was written by Jenipher Changwanda, a Malawian journalist, with support from Gender Links under the Women's Political Participation Project.