Violence and intimidation against elected lawmakers are rising across the world, increasingly fuelled by online hostility and political polarisation, according to a new report presented at the United Nations.
Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), warned that the growing hostility directed at parliamentarians could have serious consequences for democratic institutions if left unchecked.
“If the phenomenon goes uncontrolled, there will be major implications for democracies, parliaments and human rights worldwide,” he told a UN conference in New York on Wednesday.
Online Abuse Dominates Political Violence
The report, titled When the Public Turns Hostile: Political Violence Against Parliamentarians, draws on responses from lawmakers in 85 countries. It also includes detailed case studies from Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands to examine how the problem manifests in different political environments.
One of the report’s most striking findings is the scale of online abuse faced by politicians. Between 65 percent and 77 percent of members of parliament in the five case-study countries reported experiencing harassment or threats on digital platforms.
The most common forms of intimidation include insults and degrading language, the spread of false or misleading information, and direct threats.
Researchers also found that hostile online behaviour tends to surge during politically sensitive moments, such as national or local elections, heated parliamentary debates or discussions on polarising social and cultural issues.
Women Lawmakers Face Greater Risk
The report highlights a clear gender gap in exposure to political violence.
About 76 percent of women lawmakers reported experiencing some form of abuse, compared with 68 percent of male parliamentarians.
Women are also more likely to face gendered or sexualised harassment, particularly online. Such attacks often include derogatory comments about appearance, threats of sexual violence or attempts to undermine credibility based on gender.
Lawmakers from minority communities, including racial minorities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, are also more frequently targeted by online abuse and harassment.
Social Media And AI Amplifying Hostility
The IPU report identifies several factors contributing to the growing hostility directed at politicians.
Rising political polarisation, economic pressures and public frustration with institutions are all contributing to an increasingly confrontational political climate. Social media platforms, researchers say, often amplify anger and misinformation, making it easier for abusive messages to spread widely.
New technologies are also playing a role. The report notes that artificial intelligence tools and deepfake technology are increasingly being used to create manipulated images or videos aimed at discrediting political figures.
Italian MP Valentina Grippo, who is part of the European delegation to the IPU, said lawmakers now face constant scrutiny and criticism in the digital age.
“If you say something that is not perfectly in line with what your audience wants to hear, then you have multiple attacks,” she said in an interview with UN News.
Grippo added that political debate is increasingly shifting away from policy disagreements toward identity-based conflicts.
“You no more have the confrontation between ideas, which is normal, which is part of politics, but you really have a fight between identities,” she said.
Anonymous Users Often Behind Attacks
According to the survey, most incidents of political intimidation are carried out by individuals rather than organised groups.
In the online sphere, anonymous users were identified as the main perpetrators in several countries. Nearly nine out of ten lawmakers surveyed in Argentina, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands said anonymous accounts were responsible for most abusive messages.
Chungong said the effects of sustained online harassment often extend beyond digital platforms.
“Those we surveyed consistently told us that sustained online abuse affected their offline behaviour, including their willingness to engage publicly and their sense of personal safety,” he said.
Threats To Democratic Participation
The IPU warns that increasing hostility toward politicians could weaken democratic systems over time.
Many lawmakers reported altering their behaviour to avoid attacks, including limiting public appearances, avoiding controversial topics or self-censoring their views.
Some politicians have also chosen to leave office or decided not to seek re-election because of sustained threats and harassment.
These trends, the report says, could discourage diverse groups from entering politics and ultimately undermine representative democracy.
“It makes it more difficult to somehow be able to deliver a message without fearing that it is misunderstood,” Grippo said, noting that in many parts of the world political expression still carries serious personal risks.
Call For Stronger Political Leadership
The report urges political leaders and parliamentary institutions to set clearer boundaries around acceptable public discourse and to respond more firmly to intimidation directed at elected officials.
It stresses that protecting lawmakers from threats is essential to ensuring that dissenting voices and minority perspectives are not silenced.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union, founded in 1889, is the global organisation representing national parliaments. Today it brings together 183 member parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies, working to promote democracy, peace and sustainable development while defending the rights of parliamentarians worldwide.
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