The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and African Parliamentary Union conducted a study into sexism in African parliaments, released on the November 23. It shows that “sexism, harassment and violence against women are ubiquitous in parliaments across Africa.”

This investigation is the second in a series of IPU regional studies, following a 2018 report on European parliaments.

The African inquiry interviewed 137 women parliamentarians, who constitute around 5% of total women MPs on the continent. 

According to 2020 IPU figures, there are 2834 women MPs in Africa; they comprise around 23% of total MPs in the region.

The Africa study revealed several concerning statistics. For example, 80% of respondents claimed to have experienced psychological violence in parliament, with 67% being subject to sexist behaviour or remarks. 

The report went on to identify 42% of respondents as victims of physically and sexually violent threats (i.e., threats of death, abduction or rape), 40% as victims of sexual harassment, and 23% as victims of physical violence.

The majority of this abuse comes from the hands of male parliamentarians, particularly those from rival parties.

“A political opponent sent people after me to frighten me. The same tactic was used against a colleague who could no longer hold meetings because of the havoc wreaked by her opponent. She was discouraged and decided to withdraw from elections,” says one woman interviewed.

Another female MP shared, “I witnessed a brawl in plenary where a male Member of Parliament hit a female colleague.”

Women parliamentarians who are under the age of 40, living with disabilities, unmarried or/and from minority groups are the most vulnerable to this type of intimidation and violence. 

Concerning solutions to these problems, participants in the study highlighted a “critical need” for confidential spaces for abuse victims, improved mechanisms for receiving and processing feedback that are “independent, secure and fair”, and gender-based discrimination and violence training for all parliamentarians.