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domestic violence against women. This event represented an important opportunity for exchanging information, identifying good practices, best methodologies and international standards.
It was symptomatic, however, that on that occasion, of all Council of Europe member states, only Cyprus presented a systematic collection of police data, even if these were not even published on a routine basis.
The following year, the analysis of the results of the second round of monitoring the implementation of recommendation (2002) 5 on the protection of women against violence in Council of Europe member states fully indicated that only 15 out of 47 Council of Europe member states provided data on the sex of the offender and the victim in the context of domestic violence. In addition, this information was not at all easy to access, even on the Internet. From CEDAW reports and national policy documents it also appeared that a number of states required each police district to prepare a regular report on domestic violence but such a document was not intended for external circulation. In some cases, the police delivered statistics on domestic violence upon request, but not as a matter of routine.
In 2008, only 7 Council of Europe member states collected information on violence against women through the health care services. This was most easily accomplished in the Nordic countries, and was consolidated practice in Denmark and Sweden.

5. Why data collection and research are important

Far from being a technical matter, the collection of data and research is a key element in preventing and combating violence against women.
Without data and research, it is not possible to grasp this phenomenon, its root causes and effects.
It is not possible, for us law-makers and politicians, to devise policies which are based on objective evidence and fit for their purpose.
Without precise and systematic information from sources such as law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, health care and social services and non-governmental organisations, it is not possible to monitor the effective implementation of policies and legislation and the performance of the authorities.
It is not possible to put numbers black on white, and show to the public opinion at large – and often to some politicians - that violence against women is not an isolated phenomenon which affects a limited number of unfortunate victims, but a widespread plight, rooted in all European societies, which affects all social groups.
Finally – an element which should not at all be underestimated - the collection and publication of data can contribute to developing self-awareness in the victims and encourage them to seek help and report genderbased violence to the police.

6. The European Observatory on Murdered Women

A particular problem of data and figures is that, when they are published, they are already obsolete. In fact, when giving its opinion on the Council of Europe Convention on preventing violence against women and domestic violence, the Assembly asked that Article 11 be revised so as to include an obligation for the State Parties to issue annual and up-to-date statistics on violence against women. Unfortunately, this amendment proposal was not endorsed by the Committee of Ministers.
We cannot but hope that, in complying with the obligation set out in article 11, the State Parties will ensure that the figures they collect are made publicly timely, and are gathered sufficiently frequently so as to highlight actual trends.
Nothing can replace the importance of scientifically collected data and information to provide a clear overview of the phenomenon of violence against women. However, other initiatives, even if not based on a scientific collection of data, can help understand trends and raise awareness amongst the public opinion.
I am thinking, in particular, to the work carried out by a non-governmental organisation based in Portugal, UMAR, under a project called ‗the Observatory of Murdered Women‘.
The aim of the Observatory is unveiling the events surrounding the murder or attempted murder of women, due to the fact that official data does not distinguish crimes on the basis of their motive, is available only with delay and does not provide a range of information, such as what preventing measures have been taken by the