The SVRI Forum is the Sexual Violence Research Initiative’s flagship event.
It is also the world’s leading abstract-driven conference on research, evidence, and solutions to prevent and respond to violence against women (VAW), violence against children (VAC), and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV).
Held every two years, this action-driven event brings together over 1,500 global stakeholders, researchers, practitioners, survivors, policymakers, funders, and activists to share cutting-edge research, challenge the status quo, and co-create solutions for a world free from violence.
As always, GWI will be participating across the SVRI Forum and we'd love for you to come see us! To help you find us, we've curated a schedule that highlights all of the panels, posters, five-minute presentations and film screenings we'll be featured in.
GWI Schedule of Events
Monday, October 5
| Advancing Measurement in Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Research (Workshop 15) |
14:00 – 17:00 | Pre-Conference Workshops |
Facilitators: Maureen Murphy (GWI), Saini Das (GWI), Shanaaz Mathews (UCT), Michele Decker (JHU) |
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
| Prevalence of VAWG in Conflict Settings |
13:00 – 14:00 | Poster Session |
Presenters: Maureen Murphy (GWI), Emily Smith, Shikha Chandarana, Mary Ellsberg (GWI) |
Ethical qualitative longitudinal research with vulnerable populations |
15:00-16:30 | Parallel Session 2.4 Rigour and Respect |
Session Chair: Mary Ellsberg (GWI) |
Feminist localization in practice |
17:00-18:30 | Session 3.7 Accountable to Survivors |
Authors: Jihan Kaisi, Alina Potts (GWI), Fatima Mahmoud, Nour Khaled |
Participant-Driven Events at SVRI
This year, GWI is participating in two participant-driven events at SVRI the evening of Tuesday, October 6, with What Works II and Empowered Aid.
From Innovation to Scaling of VAWG Prevention: A What Works II Flagship Event at SVRI Forum 2026
Please join GWI and the rest of the What Works II Initiative for an evening marking over a decade of evidence, partnership and impact on preventing violence against women and girls.
The flagship event will bring together researchers, practitioners and donors for an evening of evidence and storytelling, from the latest findings on scaling prevention to partner-led reflections on what it takes to move from innovation to institutionalization.
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 7:30-9:30 PM
Venue: Ballroom B, Centara Grand Convention Centre, Bangkok
Please RSVP if you are planning to join us.
Bridging GBV and protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH): Advancing Evidence-Driven Approaches to SEAH Prevention
Join us Tuesday evening for an event co-hosted by the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and GWI on GBV and PSEAH.
GBV and PSEAH exist along a continuum of power-based harms, yet the two fields often work to different mandates and frameworks. The session convenes practitioners, researchers, women-led and women’s rights organizations, UN agencies, and donors to explore tested approaches to SEAH prevention. It will draw on capacity-sharing work with CSOs, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO UK), and inform an interagency SEAH Prevention Toolkit and Knowledge Platform, funded by EU in Emergencies (ECHO).
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 7:30-9:30 PM
Venue: Lotus 1–4, Centara Grand Convention Centre, Bangkok
Please RSVP if you are planning to join us.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
| What works to prevent violence against adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries |
13:00 – 14:00 | Poster Session |
Presenters: Chelsea Ullman (GWI), Flávia Dutra (GWI), Shanaaz Mathews |
Making toolkits work
|
13:00 – 14:00 | Poster Session II |
Presenters: E. Pender, Alina Potts (GWI), Y. Pyrig, L. Mueller, O. Dupont, R. Khan, S. Islam, M. Iqbal, A. Kopala, E. Chornobai, R. Babel Dimbele Ngonzou, P. Guenekean |
Embedding SEA risk mitigation into humanitarian operations |
13:00 – 14:00 | Poster Session II |
Authors: Natalia Macdonald, Veerle Triquet, Alina Potts (GWI), Davide Rossi, Wipawa Chuenchit |
Thursday, October 8, 2026
| Film Screening: A Poem for Bilkis Dadi |
11:00 - 12:30 | Venue: Lotus 12 |
Speakers: Mary Ellsberg (GWI) |
Come Say "Hello"! at Booth A9
If you're going to be in Bangkok for the Forum, make sure to visit the GWI Booth (A9) for a cozy spot to connect, recharge and discuss research, partnerships and practice.
GenderPro Alumni: Come by to say hi and get some alum swag! If you're an early- or mid-career professional, come learn about the first-ever credentialed program in the gender and development field.