Abstract

Violence against women surveys present unique methodological and ethical challenges that require specialised expertise throughout the research process. This presentation examines the critical role of gender-based violence experts in ensuring ethical, methodologically sound data collection on violence against women, drawing from the EU-GBV survey (Wave 2021) implementation across European Union member states (data collection coordinated by Eurostat, FRA and EIGE).

The involvement of VAW experts addresses fundamental ethical obligations established by WHO recommendations, particularly regarding respondent safety, trauma-informed research practices, and prevention of revictimization. Experts contribute specialized knowledge across multiple survey stages: refining questionnaire translations to ensure cultural sensitivity and accuracy of terms like "sexual harassment," developing respondent-facing materials that balance transparency with minimising distress, training interviewers to recognise myths about violence and handle disclosures appropriately, and mapping local support services for appropriate referrals.

Case studies from participating countries demonstrate how expert involvement enhances survey quality and participant wellbeing. In Cyprus, expert-designed support structures enabled immediate assistance when interviewers encountered difficult situations. Germany incorporated trauma education specialists into training programmes. Romania and Hungary utilised national experts to ensure accurate translations and establish interviewer support systems. Portugal developed comprehensive FAQ materials following expert guidance on information provision without causing alarm.

Beyond fieldwork, VAW experts play essential roles in validating indicators, assessing result realism, preventing misinterpretation of findings, and ensuring proper contextualization within policy frameworks like the Istanbul Convention. Their involvement strengthens the ethical foundation of prevalence research by ensuring that safety considerations guide all decisions, confidentiality protections remain robust, and findings contribute meaningfully to evidence-based policy development rather than potentially harmful misrepresentations.
This presentation argues that expert integration is not merely advisable but ethically mandatory for violence against women research, demonstrating how specialised knowledge enhances both data quality and participant protection in sensitive population surveys.