Ethical considerations are of considerable importance when conducting research on violence against women and girls (VAWG) and evaluating programming to end it. The purpose of this paper is to briefly summarise international best practice on VAWG research and evaluation (including DFAT’s own obligations). It also makes specific recommendations for DFAT VAWG evaluations, including how ethical considerations will apply to key aspects of ODE’s upcoming VAWG evaluation. Research on VAWG has significant ethical implications because of the sensitive nature of the topic. Similar to other sensitive topics, issues of confidentiality, problems of disclosure, and adequate and informed consent procedures must also be considered; however, the potentially threatening and traumatic nature of VAWG as a subject transcends research in other areas.

In response to these concerns, the World Health Organization published “Putting Women’s Safety First: Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Research on Violence against Women.” These guidelines were developed as part of the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women, which was originally conducted among 24,000 women in 10 countries. They have since been adopted by the majority of research institutions, donors and UN Agencies that carry out or fund research on VAWG and are considered a gold standard for the ethical conduct of research on VAWG (WHO, 1999). The recommendations advise that where the specific guidance regarding privacy and confidentiality and support for women experiencing violence cannot be adhered to, the research should not be conducted. The guidelines have since been adapted for research on VAWG in conflict and emergency settings, trafficking, perpetration of violence, violence against children, and intervention studies. The key recommendations are as follows:

• The safety of participants and the research team is paramount, and should guide all project decisions.
• Studies need to be methodologically sound and build upon current research experience about how to minimise the under-reporting of violence.
• All research team members should be carefully selected and have received specialised training and ongoing support.
• The study design must include actions aimed at reducing any possible distress caused to the participants by the research.
• Fieldworkers should be trained to refer participants requesting assistance to available local services and sources of support. Where few resources exist, it may be necessary for the study to create short-term support mechanisms.
• Researchers and donors have an ethical obligation to help ensure that their findings are properly interpreted and used to advance policy and design interventions.
• Additional measures should be considered when conducting research with particularly high-risk populations or settings