Yet, in the European Union there continues to be a lack of comprehensive and comparable data on violence against women that can be used to inform policy and action on the ground to address this human rights abuse. In response, the FRA will contribute to improved data collection in this field, which has been the subject of calls by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the United Nations and the Council of Europe.
From January 2012, the FRA will start the largest ever EU-wide survey on violence against women. Over 40,000 women in the 27 EU Member States and Croatia will be interviewed. They will be asked about their experiences of physical, sexual and psychological violence by partners and other persons. The results will provide the EU's first comprehensive and comparable overview of the extent, nature and effects of violence on the lives of women in Europe. This evidence is key for the development of effective measures to combat violence against women across the EU.
In 2013, the results will be communicated. They will include outputs designed specifically to meet the needs of practitioners working with victims, and aim to impact on policy and action on the ground.
