Political power has not insulated women from facing gender-based violence. A recent report by the United Nations has found that verbal-sexual abuse and character assassination of women was rampant. It revealed that women from all parties in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi were victims of gender violence. In most cases, the perpetrators were men within their party. Conducted between 2003 and 2013 in India, Nepal and Pakistan by UN Women and Centre for Social Research, New Delhi, the study had 250 respondents from India, including men and women in urban and rural areas, police, campaigners, EC officials, judges, advocates, journalists and elected representatives. ”
‘Verbal Abuse Common’
According to the report, 49 per cent of respondents agreed there was verbal abuse and 45 per cent said physical violence and threats were common. An alarming 67 per cent said the perpetrators were other male contestants and 58 per cent were members within the party. New Entrants
Exploited
The study revealed that the most exploited were poor, new entrants, first generation politicians and those from religious minorities. Eighty-seven per cent said support from the husband was necessary to prevent violence and 53 per cent said violence within the family increased when a woman in politics is unable to perform her domestic responsibilities. Congress leader and MLC C Motamma said sexual favours were commonplace and that men in leadership positions sexually exploited new entrants to grant them a party ticket. “Many men harass women party members as a way of lobbying for their own wives to be taken on board,” she said. “Some men also spread rumours of affairs between the woman and other men in the party.”
Issues ridiculed
BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje said women’s issues aren’t taken seriously. “Even in the Cabinet, women’s issues are just ridiculed,” she said.