Online hatred and division are growing across Europe, increasingly influencing public conversations and threatening democratic participation. Women in leadership roles, particularly in politics, are being disproportionately targeted with gender-based abuse designed to silence, intimidate, and push them out of the spotlight.
This deeply worrying trend has wide-reaching effects on democracy, public trust, and gender equality in city leadership. For local leaders, it is a dual challenge: how do you protect personal safety, encourage inclusive online spaces, and defend democratic principles?
At the Eurocities Conference 2025 in Braga, this topic took centre stage during a session that brought together women politicians from across the network. Organised by the Eurocities Academy in partnership with Nordic Safe Cities, the session examined the scale and impact of online abuse, using recent data and insights to fuel discussion.
Women leaders shared their personal experiences, exchanged ideas, and explored local strategies to fight online hatred.
“You’re excluded from the conversation”
Annette Christie, Deputy Mayor of Glasgow for Culture, Sport and International Relations, opened the session with a deeply personal and powerful address.
She shared how women politicians in Glasgow, including herself, have faced a wide range of abuse, from targeted online campaigns to physical threats.
Women are being silenced, excluded from politics, and pushed out of public life.
To protect herself, Christie said she has withdrawn from online spaces entirely. “I’ve chosen to exclude myself from social media as a measure of self-preservation, but it also removes me from dialogue with the citizens I serve,” she explained.
Christie gave harrowing examples of colleagues who were forced to leave their homes due to threats, stalkers who ended up in court, and personal information shared online to intimidate women. “There’s a chilling effect,” Christie said. “Women are being silenced, excluded from politics, and pushed out of public life.”
One colleague, she recalled, had her home address and photos of her appearance spread online, with comments focusing on how she was dressed rather than her policies. Another resigned after facing coordinated online attacks.
Christie emphasised that women from minority backgrounds face even more abuse. “It’s not just gender-based, it’s intersectional,” she said, citing the case of a Muslim councillor who was targeted with racist insults following a campaign video appearance.
“Silencing women is a human rights issue,” Christie said. “It’s time to hold social media platforms, employers, and institutions accountable.”
Personal stories: exclusion and harassment
Across the room, women shared their own stories, many of which are disturbingly similar, highlighting just how widespread the problem has become.
One of the women leaders who took part described the emotional toll of managing online hate. She explained that at one point, she could not bring herself to check her social media account, due to the anxiety it caused her. “I’m still deciding whether to delegate it to someone else before logging back in,” she said.
Another woman spoke about the experience of being targeted for her support for minority groups. “It triggered a violent hate storm online,” she explained.
But she also shared a rare moment of justice, when a man who had previously sent her threats was eventually convicted. “That moment mattered. It showed that these actions are not without consequences,” she stated.
Others reflected on how online attacks are mirrored in real-life aggression. “The digital and the physical are now completely intertwined,” one woman said. “I’ve seen how something started online ends up shaping how people treat me in person, in council meetings, in public, and in the media.”
I’ve seen how something started online ends up shaping how people treat me in person, in council meetings, in public, and in the media.
Many also discussed the gendered double standards. “If we wear the same outfit twice, we’re mocked. If we use our clothing allowance, we’re attacked. Whatever we do, it’s never right,” one woman said.
“You end up questioning everything before you post, and eventually, you stop posting.”
The bigger picture – presenting the data
Lotte Fast Carlsen, Deputy Director of Nordic Safe Cities, presented data that starkly highlighted the personal stories shared by the women leaders.
Nordic Safe Cities is a network dedicated to helping municipalities across the Nordic region address the growing issue of polarisation, radicalisation and online harm. The organisation has a specific focus on fostering safer, more inclusive digital environments.
The organisation collaborates with cities to tackle digital threats, offering resources and strategies to create safer online spaces for all citizens. Drawing on research from across the Nordic countries, Carlsen explained that, while the number of people generating hate online is small, its impact is profound.
Citing a Danish report, Carslen said that in Denmark, “just 1.5% of users are responsible for 30% of online hate.” She explained that 80% of that abuse comes from men over 40. “These are not anonymous teenagers. These are adult men,” Carlsen stated.
[In Denmark] 1.5% of users are responsible for 30% of online hate...These are not anonymous teenagers. These are adult men
She also noted the growing reluctance of citizens to engage in online discussions, with 30% of people in Denmark avoiding public debate due to fear of harassment. “The result is a chilling effect on democracy,” said Carlsen. “Women, minorities, and younger leaders are withdrawing from the public conversation.”
Carlsen stressed that this issue cannot be seen as the responsibility of the individual. “It’s not on the victim to fix it. This is a systemic issue. We need collective solutions,” she stated.
In response, Carlsen outlined several strategies that cities have begun implementing to tackle online abuse. These include moderation guidelines for elected officials, support systems, and public campaigns promoting respectful online discourse.
One of Nordic Safe Cities’ most impactful initiatives, ‘I Am Here,’ encourages citizens to flood hateful comment sections with positive, supportive messages. This simple yet powerful action sends a clear signal that victims are not alone.
“By showing support in real-time, we can help shift the tone of online conversations and ensure that hate is not the dominant voice,” Carlsen concluded.
Collective response, institutional responsibility
The session concluded with a powerful call to action: social media companies must be held accountable, political parties must condemn all forms of abuse, and city institutions must take responsibility for safeguarding their leaders, especially women.
As one speaker stated, “This is not just a women’s issue. It’s a threat to democracy. We cannot afford to let it drive a generation of women out of politics.”
Annette Christie ended the session with a compelling message: “Women must lead the way, but we cannot do it alone. We need collective support, from political parties to social media platforms, to protect women in public life and ensure our voices can continue to be heard.”
We need collective support, from political parties to social media platforms, to protect women in public life
This session marked the conclusion of this period of the Eurocities Academy’s Women City Leaders Mentorship Programme, which has empowered female deputy mayors and city councillors across Europe.
The programme has addressed the persistent barriers women face in local government leadership and provided a vital support network for their personal, professional and political growth. Throughout the programme, online harassment and bullying of women politicians has emerged as a consistent issue, leading to the focus session at the Eurocities conference.
The women who participated left with a renewed sense of solidarity and a commitment to stand together, challenge abuse, and advocate for safe, inclusive digital spaces where all leaders can be heard.
