Women in Politics: Confronting Abuse, Protecting Democracy

Violence and abuse directed at women in politics is not just a personal issue, it is a challenge for our democracy. Senator Alison Comyn and Women for Election have published new research revealing the extent of gender based violence experienced by women politicians in Ireland, with 96% of female Oireachtas members who responded reporting online abuse and almost nine in ten experiencing psychological violence. The findings highlight the impact this abuse is having on women's participation in public life and the wider health of Irish democracy. In this episode of In Our Own Words: Fianna Fáil, Senator Alison Comyn, Chair of the Irish Women's Parliamentary Caucus, is joined by Aldagh McDonogh, Chair of Women for Election, and Darcy Lonergan, Development and Support Manager with Women for Election, to discuss the research, its findings and the actions needed to make politics safer and more inclusive for women. Together they look at the experiences of women in public life, the effect abuse has on political participation and campaigning, and why tackling violence against women in politics is essential to protecting and strengthening Ireland's democracy.