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We analyse the research available on the issue of intimate-partner violence after separation or divorce, and its impact on the lives of women and children exposed to this phenomenon. The discussion is based on rich international data showing the high frequency and the gravity of this violence. Studies carried out in different countries suggest that very often such violence remains unreported. This lack of visibility represents the major obstacle for protecting women and children. We analyse some of the strategies adopted to retain this invisibility, such as the myth of “false reports” and discuss their impact on the social perception of intimate- partner violence following separation and on the lives of the victims.