Michalko (2026) explores how democracy-strenghthening programs can better help political parties respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
This phenomenom has gronw into a major worldwide dranger to democracy, weakening political representation for women as well as LGBTIQ+ communities and eroding rights protections for everyone. Political institutions have been slow to confront this reality. While governments in places like Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have recently begun regulating online spaces and tech platforms, and parliament have stablished code of conduct, reporting systems, and support for victim-survivors, political parties have received far less focus in research and practice. However, party members, affiliates, and elected leaders frequently carry out TFGBV against political competitors as well as women within their own organizations. Because political parties serve as vital conduits for women’s political involvement, they hold a central responsibility to confront this abuse within their ranks. Mihalko provides guidance for democracy practitioners to assist parties in mounting effective responses, emphasizing that this work is increasingly urgent as funding for gender equality faces cuts and threats from anti-gender and gender-restrictive actors continue to mount.
Learn more about this research report here:
Michalko, J. (2026) Online violence against women in politics: what shapes political party responses to technology-facilitated gender-based violence? ODI Global Report. London: ALIGN/ODI Global. www.alignplatform.org/resources/report-online-violenceagainst-women-in-politics