Experiences in Canada and other countries have revealed that personal interviews with women are the most reliable method for acquiring good national data about this important criminal justice and social issue. Statistics Canada's Violence Against Women Survey of 1993 used telephone interviews of a random sample of 12,300 women. Results revealed that half of all women have experienced some form of violence during their lifetime and 10 percent experienced violence during the year before the survey. Forms of violence reported included unwanted sexual touching, violent sexual attack by a nonspouse, sexual attack by spouses, and physical assault. Experiences with surveys in Canada and other countries indicate that the results may not be reliable and the prevalence of violence against women may be undercounted unless proper steps are taken to ensure the safety and willingness of women to participate. Crucial to success in such surveys is strong collaboration between community organizations, independent researchers, and national statistical agencies, as well as international organizations. Tables and 4 references