India’s female lawmakers face online abuse, rape and death threats

A study by Amnesty International India found that 95 of the country’s female politicians had received nearly 1 million hateful mentions on Twitter

It was unclear if online abuse against women politicians was worsening or improving as the research was the first of its kind and scale in the country

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Prominent female politician Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, speaks at a protest against India's new citizenship law earlier this month. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:11pm, 23 Jan 2020Updated: 11:19pm, 23 Jan 2020

Nearly 100 Indian women politicians faced abuse, including rape and death threats, on social media during elections last year, with researchers on Thursday raising concerns over rising online violence against women globally.

A study by Amnesty International India said 95 female politicians received nearly 1 million hateful mentions on Twitter between March and May, one in five of which was sexist or misogynistic. In all, there were 724 women candidates.

Digital rights experts said gender-based online violence was increasing which was intimidating women and deterring them from putting themselves forward for public office.

“People should know what women in politics endure, what they have to put up with and how unequal it becomes for them,” said Shazia Ilmi, a member of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the report.

Indian activists and female supporters take part in \a dignity march against sexual violence against women and children in New Delhi last year. Photo: EPA

It was unclear if online abuse against women politicians was worsening or improving as the research was the first of its kind and scale in India, said Amnesty in a statement.