Kathmandu: A new report by the Open Nepal Initiative (ONI) has unveiled a troubling increase in online violence targeting female politicians in Nepal, shedding light on the pervasive nature of this issue and its detrimental impact on democratic participation and public discourse. The findings, which are based on three months of monitoring the social media accounts of 12 prominent female politicians from August to October 2024, underscore the urgent need for action to create safer digital environments.

The report documents a disturbing upward trend in online abuse against women in politics, with significant increases in incidents over the past three months. In August 2024, 24 instances of online violence were recorded, with 67% involving “insult and hate speech.” September saw 35 incidents, with 74.3% categorized as “insult and hate speech,” which included physical threats and sexualized distortions. The number of incidents reached a record high in October, with 44 documented cases, 70.5% of which involved hate speech and insults.

The attacks, according to the report, not only target women for their political roles but also degrade them based on their gender. This strategy aims to undermine their credibility and silence their voices in public life. “These online attacks are part of a broader strategy to delegitimize women in politics by portraying them as unworthy of holding power,” the report states.

The findings also highlight X (formerly known as Twitter) as the primary platform for such abuse, with the platform accounting for the majority of incidents across the three months. The anonymity and vast reach of social media have enabled coordinated attacks, which often include spreading disinformation and gendered hate speech.

The report identifies several female politicians who have been particularly targeted, including Toshima Karki, former State Health Minister, Sumana Shrestha, former education minister and foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba.

“These cases reveal how female politicians, irrespective of their political affiliations, are disproportionately attacked with abuse, harassment, and disinformation,” the report notes.