The National Observatory on Violence Against Women was established in 2002 and is chaired by NWCI. The Observatory is an independent network of grassroots and national organisations that come together quarterly to monitor progress on violence against women in Ireland. It provides an important space for organisations to work for improved policies and service provision for prevention and support of women victims of male violence. It raises visibility of the phenomenon of male violence against women, monitors government commitments at national and international level and provides relevant data. The Observatory links into the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) European Observatory on Violence against Women.

The organisations in the Observatory include ActionAid, AkiDwA, AMAL Women’s Association, Amber Women’s Refuge, Aoibhneas, Ascend Domestic Abuse Service - North Tipperary, Cairde, Cope Galway Domestic Services, Domestic Violence Response Galway, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Haven Horizons, Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Longford Women’s Link, Love and Care for People, Men’s Development Network, National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Ruhama, Saoirse, SAOL project, SERP (Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute), Sexual Violence Centre Cork, Sisi - Survivors Informing Services and Institutions, Sonas, Spunout, Tintean, Traveller in Prison Initiative, TU Shannon, Wexford Women’s Refuge, Women’s Aid, YWCA.