Women in situations of violence will be placed in the centre of the analysis. Therefore the effectiveness of the Women’s Police Stations (WPS) and other services will be assessed based on their contributions to improving women’s access to justice and ending violence in their lives, instead of taking an institutional perspective.

The research methods used reflect this approach. A population-based survey will be conducted to ascertain women’s experiences and understandings of violence and justice, as well as their use and assessment of available services. After the survey, interviews will be carried out with women who have used the services of the WPS, as well as other specialized services in the public sector and those offered by NGOs. The survey combined with the interviews and other research components will provide valuable information on the impact of the WPS and related services in each country. Ethical issues will be addressed throughout the study.

The research will be carried out in one locality in each country; the survey will be conducted in the catchment area of the local WPS. Public policy, laws, advocacy, and debates at the national level will also be studied.

A preliminary mapping exercise will be conducted to identify the differences among the models, assess existing analyses, and refine the methodology. The primary research will begin with the population survey, followed by a study of the WPS and police, and finally research with related organizations that provide services related to violence against women and advocate on the issue, including the women’s movement, the courts and justice system, and health services. Throughout the project there will be consultations with institutional stakeholders.

The products of the research will include national and regional forums, national and regional publications. The research results will address states’ due diligence in complying with pertinent national laws and international conventions; women’s improved access to justice and exercise of their rights by presenting the models; identifying and analyzing lessons learned, good practices, and limitations/problems; and making proposals and recommendations.

This project aims to assess, compare, and disseminate learnings about the contributions of the WPS and related services in order to improve their effectiveness and impact, not only to meet state commitments and women’s movement’s demands, but also to better enable women to access justice and put an end to violence in their lives.