The Sexual Violence Research Podcast

The profound impact of child sexual abuse demands that we prevent it. Yet the evidence base remains thin, and we know even less about how to scale prevention programmes effectively.  In this episode, we explore what it really takes to prevent child sexual abuse at scale. We look at why scaling prevention programmes is so challenging, what it means to maintain quality while expanding reach, and the...

If we are truly committed to preventing intimate partner violence (IPV), we need to understand not only survivors’ experiences, but also the behaviours, pathways, and systems that lead people to use violence in the first place. In this episode, we explore the complex and often challenging field of IPV perpetration prevention, how violent behaviours develop and persist into adulthood, and how econo...

When we think about who perpetrates sexual violence against children, we often picture adults. But, research suggests that a significant proportion of sexual harm against children is committed by other children and young people - and yet this remains an underresearched, underfunded, and frequently misunderstood area of sexual violence prevention. In this episode, we explore what harmful sexual beh...

LGBTQI+ young people face disproportionate levels of sexual violence and exploitation globally. Yet in many countries, they remain invisible - in health systems, policies, research and prevention programming.  In many parts of the world where same-sex relationships are criminalised, collecting evidence comes with significant risks for these young people who are already facing high levels of stigma...

In this episode, we take you inside the SVRI Forum - the world’s leading global conference dedicated to research, practice, and action on violence against women, violence against children, and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality. Hear what makes the SVRI Forum unlike any other event in the field - from its electric energy and interdisciplinary collaboration to its commitment to tur...

Translating research into real-world programs, policies, and advocacy is essential for ending violence against women and children. Yet, despite clear evidence, gender based violence (GBV) prevention is often treated as a “social issue” rather than a core governance responsibility. In this episode, we explore what it means to turn evidence into action for GBV prevention, how global actors are appro...

Male supremacism is the belief that men are more important, more valuable, or should have more power than women; reinforcing gender inequality, and creating the conditions in which violence against women, non-binary people and LGBTIQ people is more likely to occur and to be tolerated or excused. While it shows up in everyday norms, cultural messages and institutions, its most concentrated forms dr...

Policy reform has enormous potential to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) - yet this area is surprisingly under-researched. Through systems such as education, legal frameworks, and social protection policies, governments and their policies are uniquely placed to shape the environments in which violence either thrives - or is prevented. So, what policies can reduce intimate partner violence a...

Understanding intimate partner violence (IPV) requires more than a snapshot in time. Long-term studies that follow people and communities over years can reveal patterns, risks, and protective factors as well as outcomes that shorter-term research often overlooks. They help us see how violence develops, changes, or declines across different stages of life. In this episode, we explore why this kind...

Universities and colleges are meant to be spaces of learning, growth, and opportunity. Yet for many, they can also be environments where sexual and gender based violence occurs and is left unaddressed. Power imbalances, entrenched hierarchies, and lack of oversight mean survivors are often silenced while perpetrators go unchallenged. In this episode, Dr Anna Bull, Senior Lecturer of Education and...

Around the world, organisations and activists working to end violence against women and violence against children are facing unprecedented threats, from political instability to shrinking civic space and economic strain. Most recently the devastating cuts to global development funding - particularly the closure of major donors like USAID - has sent shockwaves through the sector. For those who work...

This week we turn our attention to gender-based violence and LGBTQ+ communities. GBV within LGBTQ+ communities is a serious yet under-researched issue. In many global and humanitarian settings, the experiences of queer and trans people are frequently ignored or erased and much of the existing research tends to focus on heteronormative, high income country perspectives. Where targeted research does...

Faith and religion are central to the lives of billions of people around the world. In many communities, faith leaders are among the most trusted voices, holding significant influence in shaping beliefs, attitudes and behaviours. This makes them powerful allies in the prevention of and response to gender based violence (GBV), yet working at the intersection of faith and GBV can be complex.  In thi...

Conflict zones are places of immense hardship - with people facing displacement, broken healthcare systems, and separation from families and communities. But when sexual violence is added to the equation, the challenges for survivors become even greater. Conflict-related sexual violence is not only deeply traumatising, it is also used as a tool of control, instilling fear, silencing communities, a...

Measuring the impact of violence prevention interventions is crucial to  understanding which efforts are truly making a difference in reducing sexual violence. But are the current methods able to capture the full scope of this complex issue? What if there were more reliable, comprehensive ways to assess the true effectiveness of our work. In this episode, Sangeeta Chatterji, Director of Research a...

The manosphere is a sprawling online network of forums, influencers, and content that brings together ideas about men, power, gender roles and identity, often promoting misogyny and even driving real-world violence. The manosphere’s influence is growing and becoming a powerful force in shaping young men's world views. But what do we actually know about the manosphere, and what needs to be done...

The SVRI Forum 2024 brought together a diverse group of researchers, activists, donors, practitioners, and survivors, united by a shared goal: to create a world free from violence against women and violence against children. In this special episode, we hear from 10 of the incredible voices who attended the Forum in Cape Town, South Africa. These changemakers reflect on their favourite moments, key...

The fight against gender-based violence is a 365 day commitment, but for 16 days each year, the global community unites to raise awareness, ignite conversations, and take action during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence . In this special co-hosted episode with UN Women, we take a deep dive into the significance of this annual campaign and the critical work being done to address...

One in five girls and one in seven boys will experience some form of sexual violence before their 18th birthday. These statistics are shocking, and high-quality data is crucial for driving tangible change and reducing these numbers. In this episode, we learn more about the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS), the largest source of data on violence against children worldwide. We’re j...

Survivors hold the key to bringing about empowering and systemic change in the field of gender-based violence. Their stories and their voices must be at the forefront of decision making and policymaking. In this episode we hear the stories of two extraordinary activists, Kolbassia Haoussou MBE and Jac sm Kee . Kolbassia is a torture survivor who experienced awful conditions when fleeing persecutio...

By the age of 16 more than 90% of boys will have watched online pornography, some even as young as nine. Research is also showing us that exposure to increasingly graphic and violent pornography is influencing the sexual behaviours and attitudes of young people, becoming one of their main sources of sexual education. In this episode we examine the different types of violent sexual behaviours young...

With around 30% of women globally experiencing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), the need for effective and adaptable interventions is more urgent than ever. In response to this need, the SVRI has developed IPV Adaptation Guidance which highlights adaptation is not a one-size-fits-all process; it must be tailored to suit many different cultural, social, and economic contexts. In this episode of the...

Sexual violence can happen to anyone and by anyone, but research shows LGBTQI+ communities are targeted specifically because of their identities. While we have seen huge steps towards fairer treatment of LGBTQI+ people, a widespread anti-gender movement is making it more difficult for organisations to effectively prevent and respond to violence against the queer community.  In this episode, we hea...

Online spaces were not created or designed with children in mind. Children are exposed to all kinds of content on the internet, and interact with strangers daily. As the internet is now ubiquitous in the lives of our children and new technologies emerge rapidly, what can we do to keep them safe from online child sexual violence? In this episode our guests discuss: How technology facilitates violen...

Why do certain men use violence in certain situations? How do they rationalise their actions? And should researchers approach them with empathy? From masculine ideals, to patriarchal structures, to jealousy, there are many psychological, societal and cultural factors at play in these dynamics. In this episode our guests walk us through their experiences in researching violent men, what is needed t...