UN Women Zimbabwe: End Violence; VOTE 4 HER I

Women face myriad challenges when they are exercising their political rights, the most alarming of which is the perceived increase in violence against women in politics (VAWP), including violence against women in elections (VAWE). Gender-based violence in politics and elections is increasingly visible, ranging from the escalation of harassment, intimidation, sexual and physical violence against women in public life and gender-biased scrutiny by the public and the media, to forced resignations and assassinations of women politicians in the most extreme cases. As elections are the main event by which formal political power is established and voting rights are realized, VAWE remains the highest barrier to women realizing their political rights.