Statement on Dr Helen Haines MP
CEVAW is appalled by the violent attack on independent federal MP Dr Helen Haines, an outstanding female politician, who was deliberately struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, this week.
Violence against women remains a national crisis.
We are deeply concerned by the escalating online and offline violence and abuse directed at women in public life, particularly women in politics.
They face severe gendered harassment, threats to their safety and targeted intimidation that extend beyond them to their staff, families, and communities. Verbal, image-based and online abuse against women not only silences and may deter women from political participation, it creates a permissive environment in which threats can escalate into physical violence. The strength and integrity of our democracy depend upon the ability of all our elected representatives to carry out their responsibilities safely, freely and without fear or intimidation.
CEVAW research shows that there is a strong relationship cross-nationally between women’s parliamentary representation and laws to prevent violence. And this is demonstrably the case in Australia where electorates that narrowly elect a female MP experience a statistically and economically meaningful decline in gendered crime rates during the subsequent term.
Women deserve to feel safe at work. They deserve to feel safe at home, in the streets of their local communities, and in every aspect of their lives. Women in politics and public life are no exception.
Violence against politicians is not okay. Violence against women politicians is not okay.
We call on governments, political parties, parliamentary institutions and digital platforms to take urgent, coordinated action to prevent gendered abuse, strengthen reporting and accountability mechanisms, ensure effective protection for those targeted and hold perpetrators accountable.
Violence against women in politics must be recognised and addressed as a threat to individual safety and equality and as a direct threat to democracy itself.
Our thoughts are with Helen, her family, friends and local community. We wish her a full recovery.