Global Rise in Violence Against MPs: IPU

Secretary-General António Guterres delivers remarks at a meeting of the Parliament of Papua New Guinea. (file)

A majority of parliamentarians worldwide are facing threats and abuse from members of the public, according to a new report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The study found that 71 per cent of lawmakers surveyed experienced violence from the public, whether offline, online or both.

The IPU Secretary General, Martin Chungong, told a UN conference in New York that if the trend continues unchecked, it could have serious implications for democracies, parliaments and human rights worldwide.

In an interview with UN News, Valentina Grippo, an Italian MP with the European Delegation to the IPU, highlighted the growing challenges lawmakers face. She said that if an MP expresses views that do not align with public expectations, they can face multiple attacks.

The report, titled When the Public Turns Hostile: Political Violence Against Parliamentarians, includes responses from MPs across 85 countries. It also features in-depth case studies from Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands to reflect diverse political and regional contexts.

Key findings

Violence is heavily concentrated online, with between 65 and 77 per cent of MPs across the five case studies reporting abuse on digital platforms.

The most common forms of intimidation include insults and degrading language, the spread of false or misleading information, and direct threats.

A majority of respondents said the situation is worsening. In Argentina and the Netherlands, eight out of 10 MPs reported an increase in violence over the past five years.

Online abuse often intensifies around national or local elections, high-profile legislative debates, and polarising political or cultural issues.

A gender gap is evident: 76 per cent of women MPs reported exposure to violence, compared with 68 per cent of men.

Women are disproportionately targeted with gendered and sexualised abuse, particularly online.

Abuse is increasingly amplified by AI-generated content and deepfakes.

MPs from minority or disadvantaged groups, including racial minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ communities, face higher levels of online violence.

Why the increase?

The IPU cited several factors behind the rise in hostility, including growing political polarisation, economic and social pressures that fuel public frustration, the amplification of anger through social media, and declining trust in public institutions.

Grippo said political debate is increasingly shifting from a clash of ideas to a clash of identities.

Who is responsible?

The report found that violence against MPs is most often carried out by individuals rather than organised groups.

Online, anonymous users were identified as the main perpetrators by nearly nine in 10 MPs in Argentina, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands.

Chungong said many respondents reported that sustained online abuse affected their offline behaviour, including their willingness to engage publicly and their sense of personal safety.

Impact on democracy

The IPU warned that intimidation of MPs can have serious consequences for democratic systems.

As hostility rises, many lawmakers report self-censorship, avoiding certain public events and experiencing negative impacts on their families. Some choose to step down or not seek re-election.

Over time, the report cautioned, these trends could erode democratic representation, discourage diversity and weaken parliaments as institutions.

Grippo added that in many parts of the world, people cannot freely express their views without fearing for their safety.

The report called on political and parliamentary leaders to set clear standards for acceptable public discourse and to ensure that intimidation does not silence dissenting or minority voices.