Violence against women (VAW) remains a widespread human rights issue across Europe and Central Asia, yet much of it remains unreported and unmeasured. Eight out of 18 countries and territories in the region still lack nationally representative data on VAW, leaving millions of women’s experiences uncounted and unaddressed. As countries aim to meet the 2030 Agenda and achieve gender equality, investing in reliable VAW prevalence data has become increasingly urgent.
Administrative sources like police reports, healthcare records, and legal or social service data capture only reported cases, leaving at least 30 percent of incidents unrecorded. Population-based surveys are essential to understand the true magnitude, patterns, and drivers of violence. These surveys rely on trained interviewers, standardized international methods, and ethical questionnaires to ensure participants’ safety and confidentiality. The resulting evidence allows governments to design effective policies, strengthen prevention and response services, and monitor progress over time.
Despite progress in the region, data gaps persist. Only Albania, Georgia, and Kazakhstan have conducted two rounds of VAW prevalence surveys since 2015, while seven other countries have completed just one, limiting the ability to track Sustainable Development Goal targets on ending violence.
To bridge these gaps, the regional Joint SDG Fund programme “Empowering Equality: Strengthening Gender Data Systems for Sustainable Development in Europe and Central Asia” is supporting countries in generating robust evidence. Implemented by UN Women, UNFPA, and UNDCO, the programme helps design and conduct VAW prevalence surveys, providing insights into physical, sexual, psychological, economic, and intimate partner violence, as well as technology-facilitated abuse. Surveys also assess the impacts on women’s health, well-being, and participation, and explore social norms sustaining harmful behaviours.
In Kyrgyzstan and Moldova, the programme collaborates with national statistical offices, government institutions, and civil society to conduct new surveys. For front-line service providers, the lack of reliable national data has previously hindered the ability to train specialists and improve support for survivors. Engaging decision-makers from the start ensures that survey results inform policies, services, and budget allocations. Early collaboration strengthens institutional ownership and increases the likelihood that findings will guide evidence-based interventions.
These efforts in Kyrgyzstan and Moldova are helping to reveal realities that have long been hidden. Expanding VAW prevalence surveys across Europe and Central Asia will be critical for developing stronger policies, improving services for survivors, and building societies where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.
The geographical scope of this initiative includes Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
