Violence against women in politics is a global issue, one that marginalises women in both public and private life and severely limits women’s representation at all levels of government. This special report by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security focuses on the issue of violence against women in politics in the context of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, showing how such violence can deter women’s participation both as candidates and as voters.
The threat posed to women in Nigeria is evidenced in the commemoration of the report to the hundreds of missing chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram. It goes on to note that, along with reports of incidents of violence during local elections, a Boko Haram attack left 41 dead including a legislator. The report then summarises the disappointing gains by women in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and Governorships, before discussing the multi-faceted, complex reasons that contribute to such poor representation.
There are actions that can be taken to prevent violence and protect women, some of which were taken. Joint calls by Jonathan and Buhari for peaceful elections, and the changes made by the Independent National Electoral Commission to voting procedures to avoid waiting crowds, were both deemed helpful. The authors also note the excellent work of various NGO’s and the Women’s Situation Room in helping to minimise violence. More can be done however in monitoring early warnings signs that indicate the potential for violence, and in ensuring that all actors, including the police and security forces, have adequate gender-sensitive training to ensure women’s safety.