SVRI Forum 2026 to bring global violence prevention experts to Bangkok

Bangkok will become a global meeting point this October for leading researchers, practitioners, survivors, advocates and funders working to prevent and respond to violence against women and children.

The SVRI Forum 2026, taking place from 5–9 October, is the flagship event of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) and will bring together more than 1,500 participants from around the world to share evidence, exchange knowledge and drive action to end violence against women, violence against children and other forms of gender-based violence.

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This year’s Forum is co-hosted by SVRI and the Prevention Collective, comprising the UN Joint Programme on Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Southeast Asia, implemented by UN Women and UNFPA, and the Southeast Asia GBV Prevention Platform. Both are supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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The Forum comes as violence against women and children continues to generate urgent public concern across the region. In May 2026, the rape and murder of a child in Dhaka’s Pallabi area triggered protests in the capital and demonstrations elsewhere in Bangladesh, with calls for swift justice and stronger protection.

The case also raises a wider question: what happens after public attention fades? SVRI Forum 2026 will explore what the evidence says about building justice and prevention systems that work consistently, rather than only when individual cases generate widespread outrage.

Journalists will have access to new research and findings on topics including artificial intelligence, online abuse and technology-facilitated gender-based violence; climate change and gender-based violence; effective violence prevention and translating evidence into policy and practice; and emerging research from Southeast Asia and other regions.

Journalists interested in covering SVRI Forum 2026 are invited to apply for media accreditation. Travel and other expenses are not included, but accredited reporters can access the media programme and interview researchers and experts in Bangkok.