31/03/2026
On March 27 2026, member parties and affiliates of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), convened to confront the growing issue of violence against women in politics ( ) and to emphasize a shared commitment: empowering more women political leaders to strengthen democratic resilience.
On his welcome remarks, Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff, Head of FNF Asia, also highlighted this challenge is not confined to one region. He pointed to developments in Hamburg, where public protests have erupted following a disturbing case involving abuse targeting a prominent actor’s wife—underscoring how digital violence is reshaping threats against women globally. He also emphasized the importance of the issue for the foundation, which just released a series of papers on the topic with case studies across the world.
Liberal Party’s Chair and Representative Leila de Lima also noted, “When violence targets a woman because she participates in politics, it is not merely a personal matter, it is an attempt to suppress democratic participation.”
From Taiwan, Michelle Wu of the Democratic Progressive Party called for stronger condemnation of gender-based political attacks, even as Taiwan leads the region in women’s representation.
Meanwhile, V Srivarathanabul, Democratic Party spokesperson and MP candidate in Thailand, shared her powerful aspiration: to be recognized as “a person” not defined by gender and expressed appreciation for spaces like CALD that amplify women’s voices.
Ending violence against women in politics is not just about protection; it is about safeguarding and strengthening democratic foundations.
