A new initiative to collect and analyse data on VAW cases in Asia Pacific

A joint collaboration of the United Nations Population Fund Asia-Pacific Regional Office and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is launching an initiative titled "KNOW VAWdata" which will help to collect and analyse data on the extent and nature of violence that women experience, using robust and reliable methodologies.

It will be an effective tool for researchers and field workers in collecting data to bring about policy and behaviourial change to stop VAW.


In Asia-Pacific, surveys have indicated that between 15 per cent and 68 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence, at the hands of an intimate partner, across different countries, read the statement.

“We have estimates that globally about one out of three women suffers physical or sexual violence at some point in her life, usually at the hands of her spouse or intimate partner,” said Yoriko Yasukawa, UNFPA Asia-Pacific regional director in the statement.

“We’ve made progress in recent years in documenting this violence in a number of countries. Now, under this initiative, we’ll expand this work, ultimately benefiting millions of women, helping us move closer to fulfilling one of the most important targets under the Sustainable Development Agenda — that of bringing about an end to the scourge of violence against women,” Yasukawa added.