Gender and Health Research Unit

Sexual Violence Research Initiative

The Sexual Violence Research Initiative is a network of experienced researchers, policy-makers, activists, donors and others committed to the promotion of research on sexual violence and to generating empirical data to ensure that sexual violence is recognised as a priority public health issue. The SVRI was established in 2002 as an initiative of the Global Forum for Health Research. It is hosted by the Gender and Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, South Africa.

Activities of the SVRI are guided by a Coordinating Group of experts from around the world who provide strategic guidance to the Initiative and currently a membership of over 880 people from around 80 countries. For more information on the SVRI Coordinating Group visit: http://www.svri.org/group.htm.

The SVRI website provides valuable technical assistance to members and visitors, in the form of research tools and methods, ethics guidelines and protocols. The SVRI website contains over 100 country pages containing country specific resources related to sexual violence (www.svri.org). The site hosts an updated list of funding resources, and shares information on sexual violence research and advocacy activities taking place globally. The SVRI also produces a bi-weekly e-publication that is sent to members with information on sexual violence in research and in the media, funding opportunities, conferences and other related information.

To join the SVRI visit us online at http://www.svri.org/join.htm or email us at svri@mrc.ac.za.