Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the database

What is the violence against women database?

The violence against women database is a publicly accessible website that is designed to:

• provide easy access to comprehensive and up-to-date information on measures undertaken by Member States to address all forms of violence against women

• increase opportunities for exchange of experiences and promising practices in addressing violence against women

• strengthen the knowledge base for effective policy responses to prevent and address violence against women

• encourage the further collection, availability, use and dissemination of data on violence against women, as well as analysis of such data

• improve tracking of trends in addressing violence against women

What information will the violence against women database contain?

The database is the first global “one-stop site” for information on measures undertaken by States to address violence against women in the following areas:

• legal framework

• policies and programmes

• institutional mechanisms

• services for women victims/survivors of violence

• preventive measures and training

• research and statistical data

• other (e.g. engagement in international/regional initiatives, and the creation of specialized police, prosecutors, and courts)

Where will the information for the violence against women database come from?

The information contained in the violence against women database will continue to be primarily drawn from Member State responses and updates to the Questionnaire distributed in September 2008. Other sources of information include:

• States parties’ reports to human rights treaty bodies

• Information provided by Member States in follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995); for reports of the Secretary-General; and statements made at the United Nations

• Information available through relevant United Nations entities

When was the violence against women database launched?

The Secretary-General's database on violence against women was launched on 5 March 2009 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, during the fifty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women

How will the violence against women database be updated?

Member States are encouraged to submit all new information to the Secretariat as it becomes available.  They are encouraged to identify a focal point(s) responsible for communicating these updates to the Secretariat as they occur. Other information submitted by Member States in intergovernmental fora, will be reviewed for any relevant content.