Preventing violence against women in elections: A programming guide

Authors/editor(s): Lead author: Julie Ballington. Contributing authors: Gabrielle Bardall and Gabriella Borovsky.

The publication “Preventing violence against women in elections: A programming guide”, jointly produced by UN Women and UNDP, brings to light the scourge of violence against women in elections.

It seeks to identify the specific components of violence against women in elections, including types, tactics, victims and perpetrators, and presents options for policy and programming responses based on current good practices. It also provides examples of definitions and methods from all regions that may prompt ideas for actions according to each country’s national context.

This guide is intended for those best positioned to prevent and mitigate violence against women in elections, including national electoral stakeholders, international organizations such as UNDP, UN Women and other UN agencies, as well as those providing programming support on electoral assistance, women’s political participation, human rights monitoring and ending violence against women. It will also be a resource for members and especially leaders of political parties, electoral management bodies, civil society organizations, women’s groups and gender equality activists.

View online/download

• Publication (PDF, 6MB) | Summary (PDF, 1.6MB) | Poster (PDF, 580KB)
• French version
• Spanish version
• Georgian publication (PDF, 3.1MB)
• Turkish publication (PDF, 2MB) | Turkish poster (PDF, 133KB)

Order printed/published version

Languages available: English

Order from: Marta Val, Programme Specialist, marta.val[at]unwomen.org; Julie Ballington, Political Participation Advisor, julie.ballington[at]unwomen.org

Bibliographic information

Subject area(s): Leadership and political participation; Political empowerment; Electoral systems and processes; Ending violence against women and girls

Resource type: Best practices; Manuals/guides

UN Women office involved in publication: UN Women Headquarters

Publication year: 2017

Number of pages: 116

ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-63214-097-5

Publishing entities: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)