17/07/2026
๐ณ๏ธ๐ฉ๐ฝโโ๏ธ From Participation to Protection: Ethiopian Women in Politics
Women's equal participation in politics is essential for an inclusive and democratic society. Yet, many Ethiopian women continue to face violence, intimidation, harassment, and discrimination throughout the electoral cycleโboth offline and increasingly online.
To reflect on the experiences of Ethiopia's 7th General Election and identify practical ways forward, แตแแซแ Timran and FES Ethiopia convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue on Violence Against Women in Elections and Politics (VAWiE/P).
The dialogue brought together women political leaders, representatives of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), political parties, civil society organizations, legal experts, and development partners to discuss the challenges women face in political participation and the actions needed to address them.
Participants emphasized that violence against women in politics extends far beyond election day, with digital spaces becoming an increasingly common arena for abuse. They called for stronger institutional safeguards, greater accountability, and sustained investment in women's political leadership.
The dialogue reaffirmed that creating safe, inclusive, and accessible political spaces is a shared responsibility. Government institutions, political parties, civil society, development partners, and citizens all have a role to play in ensuring that every woman can participate in politics freely, safely, and with dignity.
Protecting women's political participation strengthens democracy.
