Violence against women in elections is one of the most serious barriers to women’s political participation around the world, regardless of country or context.

About Votes Without Violence

What is vaw-e?

Violence against women in elections (VAW-E) can take many forms and occur throughout the electoral cycle, from pre-election through election day and the post-election period. Learn more about VAW-E.

Types of violence

  • Economic
  • Physical
  • Psychological
  • Sexual
  • Threats and Coercion

Victim

  • Activist
  • Candidate
  • Elected official
  • Election administrator
  • Observer
  • Party member or supporter
  • Voter

Perpetrators

  • Candidate
  • Elected official
  • Election administrator
  • Family member
  • Member of security force
  • Political party member or leader
  • Other

Impact

  • Discourage women from participating
  • Influence women's participation
  • Prevent women from participating

Countries

The Votes Without Violence project, initially developed by the National Democratic Institute, has examined violence against women in elections in the following countries. You can view each country's data individually or check out our cross-country analysis.

Burma

Burma/Myanmar’s 2015 national elections were the first in many years, and an important milestone in the country’s ongoing reform process. More than 23 million citizens voted, many casting a vote for the first time.

Cote D'Ivoire

Contested claims of victory during Côte d’Ivoire’s 2010 presidential election—the first in a decade—triggered widespread post-election violence, in which women were often the first victims.

Ghana

Since 1992, Ghana has held relatively peaceful and credible national elections every four years.

Guatemala

Guatemala has one of the highest rates of violence and violent crime in the region. Even without additional political tensions, Guatemalans face widespread gang violence, extortion and widespread impunity. The country also has the third-highest rate of femicide in the world.

Kenya

For the first time in its history, Kenya elected women Senators and Governors since the promulgation of the 2010 constitution. Women’s representation in parliament also increased by six from 16 in 2013 to 22 in the 2017 elections.

Liberia

Following the 12 year presidency of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected female Head of State in Africa, there was only a marginal increase in female candidates during the general elections in Liberia in 2017. Only 16% of approved candidates were women (from 14% in 2011), including one running for president.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua ranks as one of the most gender-equal countries in the world, with nearly 50 percent women in its parliament. However, barriers to women’s participation continue to persist.

Nigeria

Although limited data has been collected regarding gender based electoral violence in Nigeria, it is widely acknowledged by the Nigerian population and the international community that women were disproportionately victimized by the electoral violence surrounding elections in 2011.

Tanzania

For several years, women’s rights activists, academics and experts in Tanzania have been raising awareness and working to end “sextortion,” in which women who seek election or nomination face the extortion of sexual favors within their own political parties by party leaders.

Timor Leste

The 2017 national parliamentary elections in Timor Leste were the first sovereign administered national elections since the country achieved full independence from Indonesia in 2001. The elections were peaceful and by all accounts well administered, which is a great achievement for the country.

Uganda

Following the 2011 elections in Uganda, citizens demonstrated increased interest in engaging the political process, including by participating in more street-level demonstrations and protests than at any time in recent history.

Election observation is of critical importance for combating electoral violence. Nonpartisan citizen observers play a crucial role in forecasting, monitoring, mitigating and mediating political conflict, including violence against women. Through Votes Without Violence, citizen observer groups in countries around the world can use new ways to prevent and stop electoral violence against women.

Learn About Our Methodlogy

OUR DATA

Gathering data on VAW-E is an important part of taking action against it. Collecting, analyzing and presenting systematic data helps make the case that violence is a real and present problem. Data allows us to define and prove the problem, raise awareness, and spur action by governments, civil society and citizens.

See Our Data

COTE D'IVOIRE ELECTION DAY PERPETRATORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE BY ROLE