A/HRC/17/23 institutions. Latvia produced an interim report on the implementation of this programme that describes actions undertaken in the areas of legislation, statistics, research, training of specialists and awareness-raising. 22. Mauritania created a national strategy to combat female genital mutilation articulated around four axes: the institutional framework; capacity-building; social mobilization and communication; and follow-up, evaluation and research-based action. Some respondents also mentioned their national programme or plan to combat human trafficking, including Belarus, Brazil and Latvia. Brazil further mentioned the memorandum of understanding signed with Argentina and Paraguay creating a centre of attention for migrant women victims of violence within the centre of migrants of the tri-border city of Foz do Iguazu, and the bilateral memorandum signed with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the creation of common services of attention for women at the border between the two countries. 23. A few respondents, including Serbia, Spain and Switzerland, cited their national plan to implement Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). Following its examination by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in 2009, Switzerland also elaborated a national action plan to implement the Committee’s recommendations and will report on progress. 24. Some respondents referred to more general action plans or strategies that include a focus on women, gender equality, and/or measures on violence against women, including Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, the Republic of Korea, Serbia and Slovenia. Cambodia also tailored its own Millennium Development Goals, including indicators and targets on reducing violence against women by 2015, which are included in the Cambodian National Strategic Development Plan. The Republic of Korea developed a basic plan for women’s policies which secures specific funds for measures to prevent and combat sexual violence and provide support for victims. 3. Information and data gathering 25. Several respondents explicitly acknowledged the importance of available, reliable and comprehensive data and information, as well as common indicators, to inform the design of public policies and legislation aimed at preventing and eradicating violence against women and to assess their impact. The dimensions of violence against women prevalent in a society, including its underlying causes, different manifestations and types, must be properly researched and understood so as to craft effective, adequate and acceptable responses. 26. In Argentina, developing indicators and strategies to collect information is a priority area for the gender observatory. In Guatemala, the National Institute of Statistics is working to put in place an effective national system of information on violence against women. Indonesia has introduced a technical mechanism for recording and reporting cases of violence in hospitals, police stations, and immigration offices. In 2002, the Council of the European Union adopted indicators on domestic violence to monitor progress towards the strategic implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. 27. Studies and surveys were mentioned by several respondents as a positive method for gathering information and data and measuring progress. In Cambodia, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs initiated a survey on violence against women in 2005, gathering a broad spectrum of data to help assess the situation and formulate effective solutions. In 2009, the Ministry conducted a follow-up study to assess progress; compared to the 2005 study data, the follow-up study showed that the percentage of Cambodian men and women considering violence justified had dropped significantly. In 2003, Singapore conducted a study on public perception of, awareness of, and attitudes towards family violence, and on knowledge of 8