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]