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Begin New Search Topic Human Welfare Publishing Institution The Sexual Violence Research Initiative

1. Being Heard: Engaging young people at SVRI Forum toolkit

Author:
SVRI
Publication Date:
09-2018
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
Every two years, the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) hosts the leading global event in the world on sexual and intimate partner violence – the SVRI Forum. The SVRI has noted an increase in the number of presentations on sexual violence in childhood since the Forum began in 2009. This increase is reflected in the number of initiatives underway globally looking at the connections between violence in childhood and later victimisation and perpetration.3 Whilst SVRI Forums and global programmes are helping to promote joint programming between the violence against children and violence against women fields, child and youth participation in research on sensitive topics remains a challenging issue for many academic researchers. Research presented at the SVRI Forum which includes young people beyond their role as research subjects is also limited, as is the number of young people aged 18-24 years old participating
Topic:
Gender Issues, Human Welfare, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2. Policy and practice requirements for bringing to scale sexual violence services in low resource settings.

Author:
N Kilonzo, E Dartnall, and M Obbayi
Publication Date:
04-2013
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
As many as seven in ten women in the world report experiencing physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime [1]. The impact of sexual violence on health, productivity, economy and a country's ability to achieve its development goals is well documented [2]. States have a responsibility to enact and enforce laws that protect their citizens from sexual violence. Where protection fails, there is a responsibility to provide survivors with the requisite services to address the physiological, psychological consequences and ensure they receive positive justice outcomes. However, few countries have the policy, legal environments and service infrastructure to respond or influence uptake of health, social and justice related services by survivors of sexual violence [3]. For example, 127 countries still do not have effective laws on marital rape even though it is a crime under international law [4]. Cultural beliefs and societal responses can be major barriers to victims seeking help post assault. A range of sectors are required to deliver services to survivors of sexual violence including health, criminal justice and social services [5, 6]. In many countries around the world, post rape care is often fragmented, of limited scope, coverage and quality, focusing mainly on immediate clinical care with poor medico-legal linkages [3], with limited attention given to mental health needs of survivors and service providers [7, 8]. Follow up and long-term management of sexual and reproductive health including HIV outcomes of survivors is severely lacking.
Topic:
Crime, Development, Gender Issues, Health, Human Rights, Human Welfare, and Health Care Policy

3. Rape Perpetration: A Review

Author:
R Jewkes
Publication Date:
07-2012
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
Rape can have an enduring impact on the lives, and health of victims, their families and communities. Both men and women perpetrate sexual violence (Sikweyiya and Jewkes 2009), however the majority of sexual offences are committed by men (Steffensmeier and Zhong et al 2006). Research on what drives perpetration of rape and other forms of sexual violence is needed to inform prevention programmes–for this it is necessary to study men. This briefing paper summarises the key issues drawn from a larger review on rape perpetration including research on risk factors for sexual violence perpetration, the methodologies used to identify these risk factors and discusses the implications of this research for rape prevention strategies. Most of the literature reviewed focused on perpetration of sexual violence by men against women and girls. For the purposes of this paper, risk factors are factors that increase the risk (likelihood) of a person perpetrating sexual violence.
Topic:
Gender Issues, Health, Human Rights, Human Welfare, and Health Care Policy

4. Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Research on the Perpetration of Sexual Violence

Author:
E Dartnall, R Jewkes, and Y Sikweyiya
Publication Date:
01-2012
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
Scientific research can and should play a critical role in raising the public profile and understanding of sexual violence at global, regional and national levels and help to define appropriate responses. Sexual violence perpetration is a relatively neglected area of research. As global and national agendas shift from responding to victims and incidents to primary prevention, there is increasing recognition of the importance of research with men and boys, including those who have perpetrated sexual violence. This area of research is highly sensitive, with distinct ethical challenges, and requires careful preparation, attention to legal issues and thoughtful dissemination of the research findings. Researchers who want to better understand sexual violence perpetration need a comprehensive understanding of the ethical issues involved. A paper published by the SVRI on ethics and research with men who commit sexual violence, highlights the lack of guidance for this work (Hearn, Andersson Cowburn 2007). It is against this background that these ethical and safety recommendations for doing research on perpetration of sexual violence have been developed.
Topic:
Development, Gender Issues, Health, Human Rights, Human Welfare, and Health Care Policy

5. A research agenda for sexual violence in humanitarian, conflict and post-conflict settings

Author:
E Dartnall, Elizabeth Rowley, and Claudia Garcia-Moreno
Publication Date:
01-2012
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
Conflict-related sexual violence has been a feature of war for generations, and in many places around the world. In recent years, however, members of the international community including, United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action), governments, humanitarian organizations, grassroots movements, and researchers, have challenged the notion that rape and other forms of sexual assault and abuse are an inevitable part of conflict, and that the needs of conflict-related sexual violence survivors are not a priority. There has been growth in the number and scale of programs to address the needs of female sexual violence survivors in humanitarian, conflict and post-conflict situations, as well as increasing efforts aimed at preventing sexual violence. Yet it is a complex issue, and the needs of both women and men, and girls and boys, who live with the health, social, psychological, justice, and economic consequences of sexual violence, and the challenges of preventing conflict-related sexual violence, continue to outstrip available resources.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution, Gender Issues, Human Rights, Human Welfare, and War

6. Mental Health Responses for Victims of Sexual Violence and Rape in Resource-Poor Settings

Author:
Thomas Callender and Liz Dartnall.
Publication Date:
12-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
“Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited tohomeand work”. Sexual violence as defined by the World Report on Violence and Health (Jewkes, Sen , 2002)
Topic:
Gender Issues, Health, Human Rights, and Human Welfare

7. Sexual Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Desk Review

Author:
Juan Manuel Contreras, Sarah Bott, Elizabeth Dartnall, and Alessandra Guedes
Publication Date:
03-2010
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
The World Health Organization defines sexual violence as “any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work” (Jewkes et al., 2002). A limited but growing body of evidence suggests that sexual violence is a serious problem throughout Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) – both as a public health problem and a violation of human rights. This document reviews what is known about sexual violence in the LAC region. It aims to explore the magnitude, patterns and risk factors associated with sexual violence, as well as the legal and policy frameworks, women's responses to sexual violence, access to services and service responses, promising interventions, research gaps and priorities for future research. Over two hundred published and unpublished documents were reviewed to prepare this document. Grey literature was identified through internet-based searches and from experts working in the region. The scope of this review is primarily based on research produced between 2000 and the present. While an effort has been made to cover the entire Latin American and Caribbean region, research is not available for all countries in the region. As such, this document should be considered the first phase in an ongoing process of consolidating the existing evidence and identifying research gaps and priorities for this culturally, racially and geographically diverse region.
Topic:
Health, Human Rights, Human Welfare, and Developing World
Political Geography:
Latin America and Caribbean

8. Sexual Violence Research Initiative: Report of Evaluation Findings

Author:
Stephanie M. Townsend
Publication Date:
08-2010
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) is a global project that promotes research on sexual violence in order to improve policy and service delivery. In March 2010 the Global Forum for Health Research commissioned an external evaluation of the SVRI. This report details the methods and findings of that evaluation. Using archival review and key informant interviews, the evaluation assessed key progress indicators and six dimensions of the SVRI's performance:relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, institutional development, complementarity, and sustainability.
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Health, Human Rights, Human Welfare, and International Organization

9. Researcher Trauma, Safety and Sexual Violence Research

Author:
Elizabeth Dartnall, Jan Coles, Shazneen Limjerwala, and Jill Astbury
Publication Date:
05-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
"I remember well the initial physical sensation I experienced. It was deep bone chilling coldness, which came whenever the women told meabout the depths of their horror, terror and torture. [...] Whenever I am writing from that emotional place of horror I still experience deep seated coldness and my ears feel congested and I feel flu like. This lasts for the length of time that I am immersed in such [emotionally] deep writing." (SVRI discussion board 2009, female researcher, North America).
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Security, Health, Human Rights, and Human Welfare
Political Geography:
North America

10. Vicarious Trauma: Understanding and Managing the Impact of Doing Research on Sensitive Topics

Publication Date:
01-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
We do research on sensitive topics because we care. We want to use our research findings to influence how society responds to an issue; to advocate for legislative change or policy improvements, or to strengthen prevention efforts through achieving a better understanding of why something occurs. We also do it because we enjoy learning about our world, and sharing experiences with like minded colleagues. Doing this work can be immensely rewarding. It can also be emotionally challenging. Listening to, reading about and analysing data on some of the most awful things human beings do to themselves and others can cause psychological distress and even physical health problems. By reading a particularly harrowing story; or after a long day in the field being an active empathic witness of trauma, or by analysing and re-analysing traumatic data, traumatic stories can gather in our mind, evoke strong feelings and result in distress and trauma related symptoms. Continuous exposure can result in vicarious trauma.
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Health, Human Rights, and Human Welfare