The democratic impact of social media abuse towards women in politics

The John and Pat Hume Foundation believe respectful debate on competing ideas are essential and healthy features of public discourse in free societies. As John Hume often said: ‘The answer to difference is to respect it.’

Today, differences in political discourse are too often perceived and experienced as negative, acrimonious, partisan, and polarising as some politicians, their followers and opponents engage in hostile rhetoric.

The John and Pat Hume Foundation launched a campaign in 2024 #respectfulpolitics to promote a respectful and ethical political discourse which inspires confidence in the political process and furthers reconciliation and democracy.

Our work has been inspired by the Jo Cox Foundation which advocates for the implementation of recommendations to address the problem of violence, abuse and intimidation of elected representatives on national, regional and local levels.

Although abuse and intimidation can and does impact anyone in public life, there is significant evidence that shows that the nature and impact of abuse towards women is distinctive.

This event will explore ‘The democratic impact of social media abuse towards women in politics’.

Research shows that the level of abuse, especially through digital media and AI, has a serious impact on women’s ability to fully and freely participate in politics.

The speakers include Tim Attwod, the John and Pat Hume Foundation, Hannah Philips, the Jo Cox Foundation and Nóirín O’Sullivan, who chaired the Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life in the South of Ireland, Cara Hunter MLA and another MLA (tbc)

Biographies

Tim Attwood is Foundation Secretary of the John and Pat Hume Foundation.

Hannah Philips is the Respectful Politics Policy Manager at The Jo Cox Foundation. is a policy researcher and campaigner with an expertise in intersectional gender (in)equality. In her current roles, she works to understand and stop abuse in public life through academia and advocacy at the University of Oxford and The Jo Cox Foundation.

Her unique blend of 10 years of experience includes London local government, the UK Houses of Parliament and the United Nations. She regularly speaks at events, publishes articles and appears on local, national and international media.

Originally from Scotland, Hannah completed her undergraduate studies in Government at Harvard University and her MSc in Gender, Policy and Inequalities at the London School of Economics.

Nóirín O’Sullivan enjoyed a diverse and successful 36 year career in An Garda Síochana culminating in being appointed as the first female Garda Commissioner.

She has served as United Nations Assistant Secretary General for the United Nations Department of Safety and Security based in New York, responsible for the safety and security of UN staff members and their dependents worldwide.

She has extensive experience in leading large scale organisational transformation with a strong emphasis on the application of strong corporate governance principles.

Nóirín chaired the Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life, which set up by the Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, in response to reports that an increasing level of abuse, including online abuse, harassment and intimidation is being experienced by those who participate in political life.

Cara Hunter MLA for East Derry, has been the victim of online abuse and disturbing AI fakes.

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