edited by: Sigrid Pisanu e Paula Sdao (d.i.King)

The State's responses regarding the collection of administrative data represent impromptu actions - such as, for example, the collection of data to verify the application of the so-called "Code Red", the one on requests for help on number 1522 and on monitoring the impact of Covid-19 on domestic violence – since they are not based on a continuity perspective and long-term planning. 

Yet the need to create a complete and integrated system has been reaffirmed in various documents and laws. Despite this, there is still a lack of systematic data collection from the important institutional sources in the health, legal and social fields.

The Extraordinary Action Plan against sexual and gender-based violence 2017-2020 seemed to be moving in this direction, envisaging a project for the creation of an integrated data collection and processing system. The agreement between the DPO and ISTAT had assigned the task to the latter, starting from the beginning of September 2018. The latest National Strategic Plan on male violence against women 2021-2023 also underlines the need to create an integrated system of data on violence and establishes a new agreement between DPO and ISTAT to extend data sharing.  

Currently, on the basis of this agreement, ISTAT has implemented the "Surveys on anti-violence centres, shelters and their users“. This information system is a multi-source system fed mainly by information collected by anti-violence centres. This workload, required by law, is often not sustainable by the centers due to the lack of human and financial resources and for this reason the State should economically support, through adequate funding, the data collection by the anti-violence centres. 

Another government action in which, once again, reference is made to data collection, dates back to the provisions of law no. 53/2022 on the collection of gender data, which in article 2 defines the "general data collection obligations".

However, this law:

  • does not clearly identify the sources of the data;
  • it does not define "how" the different subjects must collect the data, thus not guaranteeing either the standardization or the harmonization of the data itself;
  • does not oblige the persons in charge of processing and disseminating data disaggregated by "gender and disability", but only by "gender";
  • it does not provide any type of financial support to the subjects responsible for the implementation of the various data collection systems, which should merge into a single integrated system;
  • it does not provide for the collection of statistical data on violence in civil proceedings (but only in criminal ones), despite the fact that the Femicide Commission has repeatedly underlined the total lack of data in this area.

To date, therefore, there are no signs of implementing an integrated data collection system.

Lastly, from the point of view of population surveys, Italy has not followed up on GREVIO's recommendation to continue carrying out gender-sensitive surveys. In fact, since 2014, ISTAT has not conducted or published any new general survey on violence against women. The only and last report made on stereotypes and prejudice dates back to 2019.