Gender equality laws
around the world contribute to counter discrimination against women and to
guarantee equal and fair treatment of men and women, so that they can fully
exercise their human rights. These laws can contribute to eliminate discriminatory
practices and procedures that could otherwise undermine women’s right to
participate in the electoral process.
“Some countries have
introduced legislation to address the issue of violence against women in
elections and in politics (VAWE/P). A national law in Bolivia and a protocol in
Mexico define violations and sanctions. These laws recognize that VAWE/P has an
aggravated impact of harming both the victim and undermining electoral
integrity and democracy more broadly. Campaign hate speech and incitement to
violence laws also exist in other countries and may address forms of VAWE/P.
Draft laws on VAWE/P have been presented but not passed in Costa Rica,
Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Peru.”[1]
