Tackling violence against women and LGBTIQ people to strengthen democratic participation

This project will lead a comprehensive, interdisciplinary investigation into how gender-based violence and harassment, particularly in digital spaces, undermine democratic participation across Europe. It focuses on how abuse, threats, and intimidation restrict civic engagement, reduce political visibility, and limit representation, producing a measurable “chilling effect” across the democratic pipeline.

The project will integrate large-scale digital and media analysis with qualitative, socio-legal research to map patterns of abuse, identify key drivers, and examine impacts on individuals, communities, and institutions. It will include a systematic assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of existing EU legal and policy frameworks, alongside evaluation of access to justice and support systems.

Working with academic, policy, and civil society partners, the project will generate robust comparative evidence and develop targeted, actionable recommendations to strengthen protection, improve institutional responses, and support inclusive democratic participation across Europe.

We are seeking partners to co-develop this proposal for the 2026 Cluster 2 calls, particularly those with expertise in digital analysis, EU policy, and victim support.