The Chairman of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality Aleksandar Markovic, Committee member Sonja Pernat and deputy member Jasmina Karanac took part, at the invitation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), at the Interparliamentary meeting organised to mark International Women’s Day, with the topic “Women’s rights and democracy: combating stereotypes, disinformation and violence in the digital age". The meeting was held on 5 March 2026 at the European Parliament in Brussels.
The meeting aimed to foster dialogue and critical reflection on the challenges facing women's rights and democratic processes in today's digital landscape. The discussion focused on the impact of stereotypes, disinformation and violence on the internet. The participants highlighted that digital platforms, as forums for public and private expression and social interaction, are very useful because they provide various opportunities for networking. However, due to limited responsibilities and anonymity, harmful narratives spread in the digital sphere and can have a significant emotional and physical impact on people's lives. There are numerous examples in practice, and women and girls are particularly exposed to gender-based digital violence.
The participants also drew attention to the problem of digital violence against women in politics, which may influence their decision to withdraw from the online arena and even from politics.
They concluded that the victim must not be left alone. It is necessary to focus on developing measures to immediately remove harmful content and prevent its reappearance.
The European Parliament and the Council have adopted the Directive on Combating Violence against Women, which recognises the problem of digital gender-based violence but requires implementation by national parliaments.
Therefore, it is important to develop an appropriate regulatory framework, promote media literacy and ensure a safe digital environment. Building an effective protection mechanism is the task of all national institutions, including parliaments, as well as social networks and platforms.