Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Women’s Political Involvement: Implications for Democratic Governance in Southern Africa

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19566210

Chidozie Njoku¹, Lorato Otlaarongwa Ramokhutshwane², and Christopher Dick-Sagoe³ (Global Research and Consultancy, Botswana, Southern Africa¹, Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana, Southern Africa², and Department of Development Studies, University of South Africa, South Africa³)

Gender-based violence (GBV) significantly hinders women’s involvement in politics and the strengthening of democratic governance within Southern Africa. Despite the region’s constitutional and institutional pledges to promote gender equality, there are alarmingly high rates of both physical and psychological violence directed at women who are politically active. This systematic review compiles evidence from various regional contexts illustrating how GBV limits women’s political participation, diminishes electoral competitiveness, and threatens the legitimacy of democratic processes. By employing frameworks of feminist political theory, intersectionality, and human rights, this paper brings together findings from 40 peer-reviewed articles, policy reports, and regional case studies published between 2010 and 2024. The results show that GBV does indeed present itself as political intimidation, abusive online harassment and exclusionary sociocultural practices which prevent women from becoming involved in politics. These trends have a serious electoral impact on democratic rule. They reinforce male-oriented politics and erode public trust in democratic institutions. Moreover, as a consequence, the study ends with suggestions of policy actions that would improve protection for women under law and political institutions to address political violence against women, gender sensitive political institutions and better civic education as an initiative to combat GBV for women in politics.