The United Nations Secretary General launched a database on violence against women on 5 March 2009. The database is the product of a 2006 General Assembly resolution 61/143 calling for more efforts to eliminate violence against women, urging “States to ensure the systematic collection and analysis of data on violence against women”.

The database includes information in English and the other UN languages where available. Most of the information contained in the database came from a questionnaire on violence against women sent to UN member states in September 2008. Search fields include type of measure, form of violence, country, year, and keyword. The database also has a good practices section highlighting various measures states have taken to eliminate violence against women, such as a national rape victims act from the Philippines.

Users may also search by country, where they may find information on legislation, policies, institutions, services for victims/survivors, prevention and training, and research and data.

To access the UN database, click here: http://webapps01.un.org/vaw/home.action

Compiled from: About the Database (http://webapps01.un.org/vaw/about.action), The UN Secretary General’s Database on Violence Against Women.