The phenomenon of violence against women in elections and in election campaign persists. The conclusion was made by the Association Women for Contemporary Society in partnership with the Gender Equality Platform in the presentation of the report “Violence against women in Elections – the first confessions,” TRIBUNA informs.

According to the secretary of the Platform for Gender Equality, Nina Lozinschi, the purpose was to present the preliminary data regarding the monitoring of violence against women in the elections.

“We realised interviews through questionnaires with candidates and participants in the election campaign. The political parties were invited to 2 dialogues. Thus, 40% of the women participating in the elections said that they had faced violence in elections, and 60% said no. Of the activists – 51% said no, and 40% said yes.

The most common forms of violence that women face are verbal, economic/financial, psychological, and physical. Physical violence against activists is not found. The highest rate is verbal violence. 7% of women interviewed said they had used violence against another woman. 51% of women recognized that they had witnessed cases of violence against women, 15% of them reported most often to their party colleagues, the president of the electoral bureau, the CEC, the police or the council for preventing and eliminating discrimination and ensuring equality”, said Nina Lozinschi.

For her part, Olga Bîtcă, the president of the Gender Equality Platform, mentioned that women usually support more forms of violence at the same time. “The most widespread are sexism, harassment, verbal attacks, media jamming, not found in the eligible places etc.,” said Olga Bîtca.

Cristina Parfeni

Trainee translator: Mihaela Grosu