The National Observatory of Violence and Gender (Observatório Nacional de Violência de Género, ONVG) is located at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, integrating researchers from all faculties of the New University of Lisbon, as well as distinguished international experts.

Founded in 2008, it is the first national observatory covering the fields of Gender and Violence, and its independent structure is in line with that suggested by the Council of Europe, following scientific and academic guidelines such as those pertaining to its parent university.

The Observatory appeared as a consequence of several research efforts conducted over the past two decades by a team of SociNOVA, currently CesNOVA, whose results have helped deepen the scientific knowledge on the various dimensions of social – particularly against women –, domestic and gender violence, and to influence national policies in this area, as well as to inform and support policies and recommendations of international bodies.

Its institutional structure is composed of a Director, the Scientific Committee, integrating doctoral researchers only, the Partner Commission, the Consultative Committee and a body of senior and junior researchers.

The Observatory’s main goals are to carry out the survey and scientific criticism of sources; to collect, process and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, both directly and indirectly relevant to understanding the different forms of violence; to promote studies aimed at understanding the causes and dynamics, as well as the social, cultural and  psychosocial processes that are associated with the production and reproduction of violence and gender inequality over time, and the emergence of new forms of violence and risk situations; to build knowledge for monitoring the phenomenon over time; to evaluate policies and make international comparisons.

The information produced and organized at the ONVG constitutes a scientific knowledge starting point that will also benefit academic activities and research, based on standards of excellence and efficient support for decision making and action in combating and preventing the phenomenon.