Data Collection and Research

In 2011, according to most recent data available, UNHCR and partners received reports of 6,218 incidents of SGBV in refugee camps, and 4,868 incidents among urban refugees.

UNFPA developed and rolled out the compendium of case studies on engaging men and boys in gender equality and gender-based violence programmes in Africa and Asia.

The UNAIDS Secretariat is a member and supports the innovative public-private partnership, “Together for Girls”, to end sexual violence against girls, which has initiated additional studies in Kenya and Zimbabwe, to increase awareness on violence.

ECA produced a synthesis report of studies conducted in Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia which provides an overview of violence against women (VAW) in each country, the scale and prevalence of different forms of VAW, its causes and consequences. It also identifies gaps in knowledge and data collection and gives particular attention to good practices in addressing VAW.

In India, a 2011 World Bank report entitled “Poverty and Social Exclusion in India” explores the association between domestic violence and health outcomes for women and their children. An upcoming gender study in Brazil will analyze gender equality and the impact of several home-grown policies and programs on protection of human rights and gender-based violence prevention in particular.

During the 5th session of the Committee on Women held from 19 to 21 December 2011 at the UN house in Lebanon, a session was dedicated to discussing the issue of violence against women (VAW), and the main findings and recommendations of ESCWA’s Regional Study on Violence against women included: 1) the enactment of special laws to criminalize the acts of VAW ; 2) provision of services for the protection of victims of VAW and their psychological, social and physical rehabilitation; and 3) initiation of nation-wide campaigns to raise awareness about the negative effects of VAW and sensitize the pu

The African Women’s Rights Observatory (AWRO), launched by the ECA in 2007, was presented at the 7th session of the Committee on Women and Development (CWD), held in May, 2011. The 44 member states present during the session commended the initiative and moreover, have committed to appoint focal persons in order to provide data on a timely basis.

ECLAC reported that the Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean has developed the indicator “Women’s deaths at the hands of their intimate partner or former partner”, reported on by 15 countries in 2010. The office made contact with electoral bodies, judicial bodies and public prosecutor’s offices with a view to promoting greater synergies between producers and users of statistical information and administrative records, such as data on violence against women.

In May 2011, UNODC Viet Nam, in cooperation with relevant national authorities, published a survey report on law enforcement practices and legal support available to victims of domestic violence. It presents information on what kind of action the police undertook when an incident of domestic violence was reported, how they treated the victims and what the result of the police intervention was.

The international partnership "Together for Girls", to which WHO is a member, conducts national surveys to document sexual violence in a number of countries, promotes evidence-based programming to address sexual violence and has developed a strategy to increase global advocacy and public awareness. WHO contributes through technical guidance on survey development and implementation and capacity building as a follow-up of the surveys.