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The Sexual Violence Research Podcast
The Sexual Violence Research Podcast

The Sexual Violence Research Podcast

A podcast from the SVRI, the Sexual Violence Research Initiative. Our vision is to see a world free of violence against women and violence against children. Hear from expert guests as we discover how to make that vision a reality. Donate here: http://svri.org/content/donate-0

Available Episodes 10

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 takeaways, and what they hope others will learn from their work in the fight against gender-based violence.

Our guests are:

Your host is:

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI

This podcast was recorded on the last day of the SVRI Forum 2024. To learn more about the SVRI and our mission, visit svri.org.

Additional resources & reading:

Read up about The SVRI Forum 2024 here: https://www.svriforum2024.org/

Watch Nisha Pahuja’s film, To Kill A Tiger here: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81766865

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 gender-based violence worldwide. We explore the lasting legacy of the Mirabal sisters, whose assassination in 1960 became the catalyst for this global movement, and we reflect on how the 16 Days campaign is more than just a period of awareness - it’s an invitation to reflect, act, and commit to lasting change.

Your guests are:

  • Clarisa Bencomo, Project Director for Gender Justice at the City University of New York 

  • Nicole Pichardo, Activist and feminist from the Dominican Republic 

Your hosts are:

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 joined by two women who have worked intensively on the VACS programme: Laura Chiang, Lead Epidemiologist at the Division of Violence Prevention at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Daniela Ligiero, CEO and President of Together for Girls.

Together, we explore how the nationally representative VACS surveys provide ground-breaking insights into childhood and young adult violence, we discuss how this vital information can inform effective interventions and highlight inspiring success stories from countries that have implemented VACS surveys.

Your guests are: 

Laura Chiang, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Daniela Ligiero, CEO and President of Together for Girls.

Your host is:

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI

This podcast was recorded at the SVRI Forum 2024. Find out more at svri.org.


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 persecution. His journey led him to Freedom From Torture, where he is now Survivor Leadership and Influencing Director.

Jac is a feminist activist, writer and researcher from Malaysia, whose work largely focuses on the role of technology in gender-based violence. Alongside a number of roles, she is the co-founder and cartographer of the Numun Fund, which supports the creation of feminist technology.

In this episode we hear Kolbassia’s heart wrenching story, of the trials he faced while overcoming the trauma of torture, leading him to activism. Jac examines both the negative role of technology in perpetuating stereotypes and violence, as well as its benefits and how it can reshape power structures. And we hear how both are fighting for change, influencing governments and tech organisations alike.

Your host is:

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI
This podcast was recorded at the SVRI Forum 2024. Find out more at svri.org.

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 people are seeing online, and explore the disturbing connections between pornography consumption and rising rates of sexual violence against women and girls. We also discuss what educators, policymakers, and parents can do to address the damaging influence of this multi-billion dollar industry.

Our guests are:

Jennifer Johnson, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech

Maree Crabbe, Co-Founder, It’s Time We Talked

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI

Find out more at svri.org.

References

https://itstimewetalked.com/resources/articles-and-media/

https://www.breathlesscampaign.com

https://www.breathlesscampaign.com/media

⁠School-Based Education to Address Pornography’s Influence on Young People: A Proposed Practice Framework, American Journal of Sexuality Education by Maree Crabbe & Michael Flood⁠.

Pornography exposure and access among young Australians: a cross-sectional study, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health by Maree Crabbe, Michael Flood & Kelsey Adams. 

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 Research Podcast, we explore the critical process of adapting IPV prevention programmes to different contexts, what’s needed to successfully adapt and scale proven IPV prevention programmes for new settings - and some of the challenges implementers can face when adapting programmes.

Our guests are:

Dr. Vandana Sharma, Co-Founder of Equality Insights Lab

Laura Somoggi, Co-CEO of Womanity.

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI

Find out more at svri.org.

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 hear about the unique challenges LGBTQI+ people in Eswatini and Sri Lanka face, the policies and programmes working to address violence against LGBTQI+ people and the challenges stakeholders face when carrying out this work. We also hear messages of optimism about how far advocacy work in this space has come and hopes for a brighter, more inclusive future.  

Our guests are:

Bheki Sithole, Technical Advisor at Family Health International (FHI) 360 for EpiC Eswatini

Michele Lanham, Director of Knowledge Management, HIV Department, FHI 360

Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, Executive Director, Equal Ground

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI
Find out more at svri.org.

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 violence against and exploitation of children, but also how we can use it to fight against these practices.
  • The responsibilities of tech companies, the importance of coordinated efforts across sectors, and the necessity for evidence-based interventions.
  • The uncomfortable reality that if we want to fully address the issue, we also need to understand what drives the demand, while supporting people at risk of perpetrating these crimes.

Our guests are:

Shailey Hingorani, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Research, at WeProtect Global Alliance

Amy Crocker, Head of Child Protection and Technology, at ECPAT International

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI
Find out more at svri.org.

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 to create useful programmes to stop domestic violence, and what mechanisms they put in place to protect themselves and their teams. We discuss the ethics of talking to men who commit violence, while striking the right balance between humanising them, without accepting their actions. And we ponder whether there’s cause for optimism.

Here’s a link to the paper Nambusi refers to at the beginning of the interview.

Our guests are:

Nambusi Kyegombe, Co-Director of LSHTM's Gender Violence and Health Centre & co-lead the adolescence theme for LSHTM's Centre for Maternal Adolescent and Child Health

Martín di Marco, founder-member of the InterAmerican Anti-Femicide Network (RIAF) & postdoctoral researcher in the Crime in Latin America project at the University of Oslo

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI
Find out more at svri.org

Why is it still so hard to talk about sexual exploitation and abuse within humanitarian agencies? What are we doing to safeguard against this kind of violence? While we are slowly building the tools and policies to combat the issues, there are still barriers and challenges the sector needs to address.

In this episode we discuss whether attitudes and behaviours towards reporting sexual exploitation in the aid sector have changed over the years, and learn that there might be reasons for optimism. Our guests share their experience in fighting for better strategies in preventing sexual exploitation and abuse. And we hear why we need more research into which safeguarding strategies are actually effective. 

Our guests are:

Dr. Tessie San Martin, CEO at FHI, formerly CEO of Plan International USA

Theodora Suter, Regional Coordinator for the IOM, the UN’s International Organisation for Migration

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI

Find out more at svri.org.