The report, titled "When Society Turns Hostile: Political Violence Against Parliamentarians," highlights the rise in cases of intimidation and harassment of deputies.
According to the study, between 65% and 70% of deputies in five countries reported instances of online insults.The research is based on surveys of hundreds of parliamentarians and in-depth analyses in Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. Most survey participants expressed the opinion that the situation is worsening, with up to 80% of lawmakers in Argentina and the Netherlands noting an increase in violence over the past five years.
Chungong noted that online violence often arises in the context of elections, intense parliamentary debates, or acute political and cultural issues.
The report also examines the gender aspect of the problem. Women deputies are more frequently targeted: 76% of women and 68% of men who participated in the surveys reported experiencing violence.
The Secretary-General emphasized that this trend poses a serious threat to democratic institutions, adding that the rise in hostility could negatively impact the safety of lawmakers and the quality of democratic debates.
Many deputies who participated in the survey reported that they have changed their behavior.
"They begin to self-censor online and become more cautious in their public statements," Chungong noted.Photo on the main page is illustrative: UN.
