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Women Mayors on the Frontlines: Gender-Based Hate, Harassment and Democratic Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa

Publication Date:

20/08/2026

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Event Reports

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Empowering Women LeadersGender-Based ViolenceInclusive Citiesonline harassmentWomen in Local GovernmentWomen’s Caucus

— 13 minutes reading time

This report provides a summary of discussions during the webinar and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Strong Cities Network Management Unit, Strong Cities members, event sponsors or participants.

Summary

On 20 August 2026, the Strong Cities Network convened a Sub-Saharan Africa consultation webinar under the Strong Cities Women’s Caucus initiative: Women Mayors on the Frontlines: Gender-Based Hate, Harassment and Democratic Resilience in European Cities.  

The session brought together women local leaders, municipal representatives, peace and security practitioners, civil society actors, municipal network representatives and partners from across the region to discuss the hate, harassment and intimidation faced by women mayors, councillors and other local leaders, both online and offline. 

The consultation formed part of Strong Cities’ broader initiative to Safeguard and Elevate Women Local Leaders in Building and Maintaining Strong Cities. Building on earlier consultations in North America and Europe, the webinar provided an opportunity to better understand how these issues are being experienced across Sub-Saharan Africa, and what practical support is needed for women local leaders, their teams, municipal institutions and communities. 

Opening the session, Lara Petricevic, Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at the Strong Cities Network, noted that the discussion was not intended only to document individual incidents, but to understand broader patterns, gaps, promising responses and practical recommendations that can inform future support for women local leaders. The discussion was framed around three broad questions: what forms of hate, harassment and intimidation women local leaders are facing; how these threats affect women’s leadership, safety, wellbeing, participation and ability to govern; and what kinds of practical support, institutional responses and community-level mechanisms should be included in the forthcoming Strong Cities toolkit. 

Speakers emphasised that gender-based hate and harassment should not be understood only as a series of individual incidents. Rather, these harms are shaped by wider social, political, cultural and economic dynamics. They affect women’s safety and wellbeing, but also their confidence, visibility, ability to govern, willingness to remain in public life, and the wider quality of democratic participation. 

A central theme throughout the discussion was that criticism of women local leaders often becomes personal and gendered in ways that men do not experience. Speakers described how women are judged not only on performance, but on appearance, age, marital status, motherhood, voice, tone, confidence and perceived “place” in public life. In several contexts, participants noted that service delivery frustrations or electoral competition can quickly become personalised, humiliating or threatening when the leader in question is a woman. 

Participants also explored the relationship between online and offline harms. Digital harassment, misinformation, manipulated images, WhatsApp rumours, online defamation and reputation-based attacks can reinforce offline intimidation, community pressure, family stress and safety risks. At the same time, speakers noted that online abuse often reflects deeper offline power structures, social and cultural norms. and gendered expectations. 

In terms of what is needed in response. speakers called for practical risk assessment tools, clearer reporting pathways, stronger municipal protocols, digital safety support, strategic communications training, psychosocial and wellbeing support, peer networks, mentoring, community education, economic empowerment, stronger legal and policy frameworks, and the meaningful involvement of men, boys, community leaders, faith leaders, political parties and civil society. 

Insights from the consultation will inform the forthcoming Strong Cities toolkit, which will support responses to gender-based hate, harassment and intimidation targeting women local leaders at the individual, municipal and community levels. Strong Cities is working towards launching the toolkit during the Seventh Strong Cities Global Summit in Rabat, Morocco, in January 2027.

Speakers

• Rehema Zaid Obuyi, Peace and Security Strategist and Education Innovator, Integrated Initiatives for Community Empowerment, IICEP, Kenya
• Former Mayor Regina Bakitte, Nansana Municipality, Uganda
• Councillor Munira Abdullah, Zomba District, Malawi 
• Councillor Nomvuyo Mposelwa, National Chairperson, South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Women’s Commission, South Africa 
• Hon. Cecilia Soyelleh, Municipal Chief Executive, Lawra Municipal Assembly, Ghana 

Key Takeaways

• Gender-based hate and harassment targeting women local leaders is a democratic governance issue, not only an individual safety issue. 
• Intimidation, abuse, and harassment affect women’s ability to speak, campaign, govern, remain visible, and continue in leadership. The impact extends to representation, civic debate, public trust and local governance 
• Online and offline harms are deeply connected. 
  Digital harassment, misinformation, manipulated images, WhatsApp rumours and reputation-based attacks can reinforce offline intimidation, community pressure, family stress and present safety risks. 
• Women local leaders face gendered double standards. 
  Criticism can quickly become personal, gendered, humiliating or threatening, with women judged not only on performance but on appearance, age, marital status, motherhood, voice, tone, confidence and perceived gender roles. 
• Responses must move beyond individual resilience. 
  Women local leaders should not be left to manage threats, harassment or public attacks alone. Municipalities, political parties, municipal associations, civil society, law enforcement, community leaders, faith leaders, men and boys all have roles to play. 
• The forthcoming toolkit should be practical, prevention-oriented and useful at individual, municipal and community levels. 
  Needed tools include ones that help identify risks early, clarify reporting and response pathways, strengthen communication, capacity and digital safety, support wellbeing, build peer networks and engage communities in changing norms. 

Key Themes 

1. Gendered Harassment as a Threat to Democratic Participation and Local Governance

Speakers stressed that hate and harassment targeting women local leaders should not be treated only as an individual safety concern but a governance and democracy issue.  

Rehema Zaid Obuyi framed gender-based hate and harassment as part of a broader continuum of intimidation. These harms are not isolated incidents or only as attacks on individuals, but attacks on governance itself. Their impact is not only what is said online, but what the abuse is intended to do: stop a woman leader from acting, speaking or leading with confidence. 

Participants noted that when women are intimidated, silenced or pushed out of public life, the impact goes beyond the individual. It affects representation, civic debate, public trust and the ability of local government to respond to community needs. It also sends a message to younger women and girls about the cost of entering public leadership. 

Councillor Nomvuyo Mposelwa argued that experiences of harassment and intimidation should not be treated as private pain or isolated incidents. They should be recognised as safety risks and democracy risks. She noted that community protests can be a legitimate form of democratic expression, but when a municipality is led by a woman, criticism often takes on a different character.  

Women leaders may be attacked for their appearance, age, marital status, motherhood, voice, tone or personality. The same confidence that may be praised in a male leader can be labelled arrogance in a woman, while a delivery challenge treated as administrative under male leadership can become a campaign of humiliation when a woman is in charge. 

2. The Online–Offline Nexus: Reputation, Disinformation, Safety and Family Impacts 

Rehema Zaid Obuyi noted that online attacks often reflect offline power structures, gender dynamics and community norms. Former Mayor Regina Bakitte described how online intimidation, social media attacks, WhatsApp rumours and manipulated images were used to defame and undermine her during political campaigning. These attacks shift community perceptions and force women leaders into defensive positions. This takes time and energy away from their agendas. Discussions highlighted how online sphere is particularly complex, especially with the development of generative AI tools that can be misused, and in contexts where regulation may not provide reliable protection. 

Participants also discussed impacts on families. Councillor Mposelwa noted that harassment affects children and families, underscoring that digital safety must be linked to physical safety, family protection and municipal support systems.  

3. The Wider Enabling Environment: Social Norms, Culture, Family, Economic Empowerment and Political Structures 

Speakers emphasised that women local leaders do not operate in isolation. Their leadership is shaped by family responsibilities, gender roles, cultural expectations, economic pressures, education, political party structures and access to resources. 

Councillor Munira Abdullah highlighted the challenge of balancing leadership responsibilities with family expectations, as well as the limited resources. She stressed the importance of women’s economic empowerment and education, arguing that these are powerful tools against gender-based violence. 

 
Rehema Zaid Obuyi reflected on the private burdens many women carry, including limited support within the home. She noted that in some contexts, women’s leadership may be seen as challenging deeply held expectations about women’s roles in family and society. Former Mayor Regina Bakitte described how cultural norms in Uganda can frame women’s strengths as weaknesses, forcing them to defend themselves rather than advance their agendas. Speakers also emphasised the role of political parties and campaign structures. Political parties have networks and influence, and they should be part of the response, including by placing gender on the agenda and addressing internal dynamics that limit women’s participation. 

 
Mentoring young women and girls was highlighted as essential. Former Mayor Bakitte called for engagement with schools, universities and community institutions, and for women leaders to remain visible even after electoral setbacks. 

4. From Individual Resilience to Shared Responsibility: Practical Support, Systems and Toolkit Priorities  

1. Invest in youth belonging, mental health and third places: Be more proactive in engaging young people across all parts of the city, rather than waiting for them to seek out opportunities. Alongside creating more opportunities for civic engagement, including by making full use of the Mayoral Youth Forum, efforts should be made to expand youth-centred programmes that provide safe and welcoming spaces outside school and home where young people can build relationships, access support and develop leadership skills.   

 Speakers noted that women local leaders are often expected to navigate harassment alone. They must assess threats, decide where to report, protect families and staff, manage online attacks and continue campaigning or governing under pressure.   

Rehema Zaid Obuyi argued that empathy is not enough, particularly without operational guides, institutional accountability mechanisms, gender-sensitive reporting pathways and comprehensive safety protocols. Women local leaders may remain in a constant state of hypervigilance, diverting energy toward reacting to attacks rather than to leading, planning and governing. 

 
Councillor Mposelwa called for practical municipal protocols that include clear reporting pathways, risk assessment tools, links to law enforcement, digital safety guidance and psychosocial support. Risk assessment emerged as a particularly strong priority. Nondumiso Twalo: environment scanning and early warning tools. This was seen to move from reacting to incidents after they occur towards identifying warning signs earlier and preparing more effectively. 

Speakers also highlighted the importance of communication support, including guidance on responding to misinformation, de-escalating hostile narratives, and communicating during protests or crises. 

Mental health and wellbeing were also raised as core components of support. Counselling, peer support networks and stress management resources should be included. Hon. Cecilia Soyelleh emphasised social welfare provision, and community-level mechanisms for safeguarding vulnerable people and responding to gender-based violence.  

 
Peer networks and mentoring were seen as essential. Safe platforms for women leaders to share experiences without fear of judgement or political exploitation were strongly recommended.    

 
Participants also called for stronger laws, policies and accountability mechanisms, including ones that ensure meaningful protection for women and children. Complaints must be taken seriously and perpetrators held accountable.   

 
Finally, speakers stressed that this cannot be treated only as a women’s issue. Engagement with traditional leaders, faith leaders, youth formations, women’s organisations, peacebuilding actors, civil society and male allies is essential to challenge social norms that make it acceptable to insult, threaten or undermine women leaders and create safer environments for women to serve.   

Implications for the Toolkit

The consultation pointed to the need for practical tools and guidance in five areas: Risk  

1. Assessment and Early Warning tools to help women local leaders and their teams identify warning signs, understand root causes, conduct environmental scanning and prepare for possible escalation. These tools should cover both online and offline risks, including public meetings, protests, campaign periods, family safety, personal information online, community tensions and reputational attacks. 

2. Digital Safety, Documentation and Online Harms 
   Practical guidance on managing online abuse, protecting personal information, documenting incidents, preserving evidence, responding to misinformation, addressing manipulated images and understanding how digital abuse can affect offline safety and public trust. 

3. Reporting Pathways, Municipal Protocols and Accountability 
   Clear reporting and escalation pathways, emergency response protocols and municipal procedures for responding to threats, harassment, intimidation and gendered hate speech. These should clarify who should respond, when to involve law enforcement or legal actors, and how municipal staff can support women leaders before, during and after incidents. 

4. Strategic Communications and Crisis Response 
   Guidance on what to say, how to say it and when to communicate during volatile situations. This includes responding to misinformation, de-escalating hostile narratives, communicating during protests or service delivery tensions, and ensuring women leaders are supported by their teams rather than left to manage public communication alone. 

5. Peer Support, Wellbeing, Community Education and Allyship 
   Support for peer networks, mentoring, counselling pathways, stress management resources and safe spaces where women leaders can exchange experiences and strategies. Community-facing guidance should help distinguish legitimate criticism and gendered abuse, and outline roles of men, boys, political parties, faith leaders, traditional leaders, youth groups, women’s organisations, civil society and local media in changing norms and creating safer environments for women’s leadership. 

Next Steps

The consultation reinforced that gender-based hate, harassment and intimidation targeting women local leaders is a global challenge, while also highlighting the importance of specific local contexts. Across the region, speakers described the intersection of online and offline harms, political competition, protest dynamics, community expectations, cultural norms, family pressures, economic realities and institutional gaps. 

At the same time, the discussion pointed clearly towards practical solutions. Women local leaders need tools and support, but they should not be left to manage these risks alone. Municipalities, political parties, municipal associations, civil society, law enforcement, community leaders, faith leaders, youth, men and boys all have a role to play in creating safer and more enabling environments for women in public life. 

The insights from this webinar will feed directly into the development of the Strong Cities toolkit, supporting action at three levels:  

1. Individual/local leader level — including safety, wellbeing, preparation, peer support, communications capacity and access to guidance. 

2. Municipal/local government level — including institutional policies, reporting pathways, protocols, staff support and accountability. 

3. Community/societal level — including community education, social norms, allyship, public safety, democratic resilience and social cohesion. 

Strong Cities will continue to gather input through regional consultations and surveys. The forthcoming toolkit will be practical, grounded in lived experience and useful for women local leaders, municipal institutions and communities working to ensure that women can lead visibly, safely and with dignity. 

Strong Cities thanks all speakers and participants for their openness, leadership and contributions to this important discussion. 

Contact Information 

For more information about the Strong Cities Women’s Caucus and this initiative, please contact Strong Cities at [email protected].

Additional Resources 

• Women Mayors on the Frontlines: Closing the Gaps in Responses to Gender-Based Hate, Harassment and Intimidation, Strong Cities Network (July 2026) 
• Women Mayors on the Frontlines: Gender-Based Hate, Harassment and Democratic Resilience in European Cities, Strong Cities Network (June 2026) 
• North America Regional Hub: Safeguarding and Elevating Women Local Leaders in Building and Maintaining Strong Cities, Strong Cities Network (April 2026)
• Strong Cities Network Launches Global Initiative to Address Hate and Harassment Targeting Women Local Officials 
• How to Prevent and Respond to Swattings & Threats, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (February 2026) 
• ‘Tick tock traitor:’ The rise of violent rhetoric targeting US public officials, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (February 2026) 
• Sixth Global Summit: Spotlight on the Strong Cities Network Women’s Caucus, Strong Cities Network (January 2026) 
• Sixth Global Summit: Hate and Harassment Against Elected Local Officials, Strong Cities Network (January 2026) 
• Squaring the circle on men’s health, online harms and gender-based violence, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (December 2025)
• North America Regional Hub: Enhancing Local Efforts to Address Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and Misogyny as Drivers of Social Polarisation and Violence, Strong Cities Network (December 2025)
• Fostering Healthy Masculinities: Building Resilience Against Online Misogyny, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (December 2025) 
• A Toolkit for Manitoba Municipalities: Addressing Anti-Government Hate and Harassment, Strong Cities Network (December 2025) 
• Project Catalyst toolkit on misogyny and violent extremism, Christchurch Call (2023) 

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