The Women's Forum of the European People's Party adopted a historic resolution against violence against women in politics and public life, at the initiative of Albana Vokshi, vice-president of the largest center-right women's political grouping EPP Women.
The EPP Women resolution emphasizes that violence against women is not simply a "gender issue", but a systematic attack on democracy.
It serves as a warning that the European Union must be more demanding of countries where elections are accompanied by violence, threats, and misogynistic insults orchestrated by the government and organized crime.
The document underlines that “"Violence against women in politics is not just an individual tragedy, but a systematic attack on democracy. It removes women with integrity and democratic values from public life, leaving space for oligarchic and criminal networks that do not represent women's rights."
The DP announces that the document includes specific cases from Albania, such as threats against Albana Vokshi and her family during the May 11, 2025 elections, sexist insults against opposition candidates, and direct verbal attacks by Prime Minister Rama against women in politics, as well as cases of attacks on women in the judiciary, who are dismissed for disobeying government orders.
Taking its cue from the case of Albania, but also listing cases of violence against women journalists in Georgia or cases of physical and online violence in several European countries, the EPP Women resolution points out that "These practices create an intimidating effect: women hesitate to express their opinions or participate in public life for fear of attacks and punishment. Such violence undermines the foundations of democracy and political stability.""- the resolution states.
“When women like Albana Vokshi are threatened by organized crime in Albania or when women journalists in Georgia are accused, this is not a women's issue. It is a hijacking of democracy by using women as hostages. We did not win our rights to lose them in silence.” – declared: EPP Secretary General, Dolors Montserrat.
EPP Women urged the European People's Party and the European Union institutions to support the resolution and reaffirm that violence against women in politics is a direct attack on democracy.
In one of her comments, Albana Vokshi stated that "The call to European institutions is clear: not to tolerate political violence as a means to weaken the opposition and democracy. This document is not only an open condemnation of violent practices and political intimidation, but an appeal for the European Union to be more demanding of democratic standards in candidate countries like Albania. If violence against women in politics is tolerated, democracy remains only on paper. The message is strong: democracy cannot exist when threats and attacks against women aim to silence the opposition.”
The European center-right EPP Women's Forum, which took place in Larnaca, Cyprus, considers support for the resolution as a test of the values on which the European Union itself is built.
