Domains are the overarching themes or areas of research that are needed. Two systematic reviews – one to understand the co-occurrence of violence against women and violence against children, and the other on interventions that attempt to jointly address these two types of violence – were used to understand what kinds of gaps there are in the field. The coordinating group and the advisory group then worked during February 2022 to outline 5 domains or overarching themes or umbrellas under which potential research questions could be grouped.

The 5 domains are as follows:

1. RESEARCH TO STRENGTHEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF INTERSECTIONS: Gender sensitive research to understand the different intersections across multiple forms of VAW and VAC – including types, frequency, severity, prevalence, incidence, nature and impacts of, pathways between, and risk and protective factors associated with of co-occurrence of VAW and VAC across the life course and generations.
2. INTERVENTION AND SERVICES RESEARCH FOCUSED ON VAC-VAW INTERSECTIONS: Research on programs, interventions and services that prevent and/or respond to both VAW and VAC including building understanding of when and how interventions to prevent or respond to both VAW and VAC work and when coordinated or integrated VAC and VAW interventions are not recommended (and why).
3. TOOLS, METHODS, AND MEASUREMENT IN VAW-VAC INTERSECTIONS RESEARCH: Research to identify new and innovative ways to measure intersections of VAW and VAC; challenge hierarchies of knowledge, encourage practice-based learning and participatory approaches; and, address ethical issues and strengthen monitoring and evaluation of interventions in ways that investigate outcomes relevant to both VAW and VAC.
4. RESEARCH ON COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION ACROSS VAW AND VAC SECTORS: Research into challenges and facilitating factors in coordination and collaboration across sectors at multiple levels as well as research that provides insights into shared language, common values and principles, and helps address “thorny” issues (such as mandatory reporting, parental alienation) which often impede collaboration.
5. POLICY RESEARCH: Research to better understand policies including how they address VAC-VAW intersections, how they influence governance and delivery of services (availability, mandates, funding, etc.) and what impacts they have.