Insults, false accusations and rumors (often of a sexual nature), marginalization, and even threats of violence and political retaliation plague Albanian women in politics according to a report by UNDP Albania.
The study relied on interviews and personal experiences of 20 Albanian women politicians who had been political candidates at one point in their career.
“A higher percentage of political candidates reported that degrading talk and false rumors (55.56%) are a normal part of politics, followed by intimidation and violence (42.16%), threats against politicians (30.16%), destruction of property (16.34%), and physical violence (6.86%),” according to the report.
The researchers noted that several candidates did not feel comfortable sharing their stories for they feared retaliation and marginalization within their own parties.
The study found that “women – especially those who tried to reach leadership positions in the party – the main perpetrator of political violence was their political party.”
Women candidates revealed they are often sidelined, interrupted during meetings, their contributions belittled, and they are kept out of the loop for important decisions.
Since this type of violence is not always visible, women politicians described the problem as “hidden, complex, and difficult to address.”
In fact, the violence women politicians face is overwhelmingly psychological that has led them to question their abilities and harmed their mental health.
“False accusations and rumors of sexual nature have had traumatic effects on women and their families – children, parents, and partners,” the report found.
