Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) and HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction) will participate in the ninth Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum (SVRI), taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 5 to 9 October 2026. 

The SVRI Forum is the world’s largest abstract-driven convening dedicated to ending violence against women, violence against children and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality. 

WHO and HRP will contribute evidence, implementation experience and practical tools spanning violence prevention, health-sector responses, measurement of violence against women, and the interlinkage with humanitarian settings and mental health. 

Pre-conference Workshops 

Ahead of the main conference, WHO, HRP and partners will contribute to a series of pre-conference workshops and capacity-building activities focused on advancing evidence-informed approaches to addressing violence against women and girls. These sessions will bring together researchers, policy-makers, practitioners, advocates, funders and young professionals to explore emerging evidence, strengthen implementation strategies, promote survivor-centred approaches, and support the next generation of researchers and practitioners working to prevent and respond to violence against women and children globally. 

Programme highlights 

Preventing violence before it happens 

The parallel session Stopping child sexual abuse before it happens: Practical ways to work with adults and adolescents at risk of causing harm will examine practical approaches to primary prevention, including work with adults and adolescents who may be at risk of causing harm. The session will take place on Wednesday 7 October from 17:00 to 18:30. The location is currently to be confirmed (TBC). 

Making services safer in humanitarian settings 

Women and girls affected by humanitarian emergencies may interact with health, nutrition, education and other essential services. These points of contact can play an important role in ensuring that people exposed to gender-based violence receive safe, appropriate and coordinated support. 

WHO and HRP will join UNICEF and the International Planned Parenthood Federation for the participant-driven event Safer at the Point of Care: Integrating GBV Services Across Health, Nutrition, and Education in Humanitarian Settings. The session will take place on Tuesday 6 October from 13:00 to 14:30 in Lotus 5-7. 

Strengthening the measurement of violence against women 

Reliable, ethical and comparable data are essential for understanding the scale and forms of violence against women, monitoring change and informing policies and programmes. 

WHO and HRP are organising this participant-driven event Strengthening the measurement of violence against women: Data availability, methodological issues and recommendations for good practice. The session will focus on data availability, methodological challenges and recommendations for strengthening practice. It will take place on Wednesday 7 October from 13:00 to 14:30 in Lotus 11. 

Connecting violence against women and mental health 

WHO, HRP and the World Bank will convene the Side event on violence against women and mental health. The side event will create space for discussion on the relationship between violence against women and mental health and the implications for research, policy and practice. The event will take place on Thursday 8 October from 19:30 to 21:30 in Lotus 5-6. 

Visit the UN booth 

Throughout the Forum, participants will be able to connect with WHO, HRP and other United Nations partners at the One UN booth. 

The booth will serve as a space to explore evidence-based resources, learn about the work of participating UN agencies and speak with technical experts working to prevent and respond to violence against women and children. Visitors will also be able to discover practical guidance and tools that can support research, policy and implementation in different settings. 

Full programme 

You can find all the WHO and HRP activities at SVRI 2026 back on our Roadmap. Participants can consult the official SVRI Forum 2026 website for conference information and programme updates.