CWP Conference - Workshop B - Effectively Combating all forms of Abuse and Harassment in Parliament

In a study conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Sexism, Harassment and Violence Against Women in Parliaments in Europe, it was found that over 40% of female parliamentary staff had experienced sexual harassment at work. Additionally, 82% of women Parliamentarians who participated in the IPU’s international study on sexism, harassment and violence against women Parliamentarians have suffered psychological violence during their term in office.

At the 6th triennial CWP Conference, held in the margins of the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Uganda, the issue of bullying and harassment in the workplace was highlighted as an important issue which needed to be tackled across the Commonwealth and beyond. Women Parliamentarians of all political ideologies, from the largest to the smallest legislatures in the Commonwealth emphasised both the need to address the issue and their commitment to drive change, both within their jurisdictions and abroad.

In 2020, the CWP network launched the CPA Anti-Harassment Policy Guidelines as a toolkit to support Parliaments across the Commonwealth in the effort to both address and eradicate all forms of harassment across parliamentary workplaces. Drawing from a wide range of anti-harassment policies and procedures from Parliaments in the Commonwealth, these guidelines provide a detailed step-by-step approach that offers insights and case studies on what appropriate methods should be included when developing or updating their respective anti-harassment policies.

This workshop will look at the issue of harassment and abuse in Parliament and the harmful impact it has on Parliamentarian, staff and Parliament as an institution. The session will look into the role of Parliamentarians and what they can do to combat the issue in Parliament. The session will also seek to allow attendees to learn and share best practices that Commonwealth Parliaments can put in place as a mechanism towards solving the issue.

The Workshop will comprise of a panel discussion and will conclude with a Q&A session.

To browse the workshop reading list, read the draft recommendation and submit a feedback form, visit: 

CWP Conference - Workshop B - Effectively Combating all forms of Abuse and Harassment in Parliament