A group representing New Zealand women parliamentarians says gender-based violence against them in the workplace must no longer be viewed as the price for political involvement after a survey found sexism, harassment and violence against women politicians is real and widespread.
The survey carried out last year by the New Zealand Chapter of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians found "psychological violence" was the most widespread form, affecting seven out of 16 - or 44 per cent - of the respondents.
Psychological violence was defined in the survey as any "remarks, gestures and images of a sexist or humiliating sexual nature made against you and threats and/or mobbing to which you might have been subjected".
The survey report released today said psychological violence was inflicted by a mix of strangers and colleagues.
Fellow Members of Parliament were common perpetrators of sexist or humiliating remarks, with multiple respondents indicating that such comments are prevalent among party colleagues, across parties, as well as in core work environments such as Select Committees.
"This type of psychological violence is commonly downplayed, whether acknowledged to be not unique to the parliamentary environment, seen as expected in any job, or viewed as part of the 'culture of parliament'," the report stated.
Among the kinds of psychological violence, 44 per cent of those surveyed said they had received threats of death, rape, beatings or abduction during their parliamentary career.
The survey found 29 per cent of respondents reconsidered standing for another term because of their experiences of sexism, harassment and violence.
Among those who experienced abuse and considered reporting it, the vast majority chose not to do so, with 86 per cent of respondents not reporting abuse due to not knowing who to go to for support, not wanting to relive the event, or simply deciding to put up with it.
The report said such behaviour must no longer be viewed as just the price to be paid for political involvement.
"It is the duty of political actors, men and women, and of parliaments as institutions to set the right examples.
"In order to not legitimise discrimination and violence against women in all other spheres of life, public as well as private, we need to set an example in our house of the people. The effectiveness of parliaments, progress toward gender equality, and the vitality of democracy itself all depend on it," it stated.
The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians also said it intends to present these findings to the Speaker of the House "so that they may be used as the basis for acknowledging these problems formally and finding collaborative, long-term solutions".
The survey followed one carried out in 2016 on sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliaments in Europe which found sexism and gender-based violence occurs on a daily basis, is widespread and has a negative impact on female politicians.
SHARE ME