The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (#SVRI) Forum 2022 is the most important global conference on innovation, practice and research on violence against women and violence against children in low- and middle-income countries, which was held this year in Cancun, Mexico from 19-23 September.
This is the world’s leading research and practice event on #violenceagainstwomen (#VAW), #violenceagainstchildren (#VAC) and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality in low and middle-income countries. It provides a unique space where delegates, researchers, practitioners, programme managers, funders, policymakers, activists, journalists can come together, build and share knowledge, expand their networks, and create collaborations.
This year, the Partnerships for Prevention of Gender-based Violence in Southern Africa (#PfP-II) programme sponsored the Forum together with other relevant partners. In this edition the event brought together more than 1 000 delegates from around the world to - CONNECT, SHARE and LEARN while providing a platform for building and strengthening existing joint efforts on prevention and response of #VAW and #VAC.
Forum themes included understanding the impact of humanitarian or emergency crises such as the #COVID-19 pandemic on #VAW, #VAC, what works to prevent #VAW and #VAC, how to adapt, scale and cost programmes and more. The Forum also included workshops on multiple topics such as scaling up programmes, how to use evidence to inform practice and vice versa, decolonising research and practice, research methods and tools.
Speakers and panelists included many of the rock stars of the gender-based violence research field such as Dr. Claudia Garcia-Moreno (WHO); Researchers of the Regional Centre for Multidisciplinary Research (CRIM) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM); Prof Rachel Jewkes, SAMRC; Dr Nadine Gasman; Reem Alsalem; Hermelinda Tiburcio Cayetano; Estefania Vela Barba; Prof Mary Koss,; Prof Jacqui Campbell, Prof Naeemah Abrahams, Dr Mary Ellsberg, Dr Lori Heise, either women on whose shoulders we stand.
The PfP programme had also the opportunity to deliver a presentation on the work that has been carried out in partnership with #UNWomen in South Africa. In total, the SVRI Forum comprised featured over 240 oral presentations, 121 five-minute presentations, 37 participant driven events, 24 exhibition stands, art, music and safe spaces for all participants to connect, share and learn in the field of VAW and VAC prevention and response.
Begona Castro, PfP Programme Manager, says:
"After three very tough years of isolation, lockdowns, loss and disruptions, the #SVRI 2022 Forum is back, a space that brings the field of Gender-based Violence together! It was really exciting to play an active role in mobilising knowledge and new ideas, and by doing so be ready for the challenges ahead. GIZ's work in the field of gender-based violence prevention was represented through the participation of the PfP regional programme. This is an implicit recognition by the global development partner community of the good quality of our work¨
More information about the SVRI Forum 2022: https://www.svriforum2022.org/at-a-glance/.