SVRI Forum 2026 closes in Bangkok with focus on violence prevention

More than 1,500 experts, researchers and policymakers from over 80 countries wrapped the SVRI Forum 2026 in Bangkok on Oct. 13, spotlighting evidence-based strategies to prevent violence against women and children. Organizers said the week reinforced that violence is solvable and called out emerging risks tied to technology, climate change, sports institutions and attacks on feminist movements.

Why it matters: - The SVRI Forum is the largest global convening focused on research to end violence against women and children. - The Bangkok summit centered on prevention and response strategies that are already being used at scale. - Organizers framed the week’s findings as evidence that violence can be reduced with the right laws, policies and protections.

What happened: - The SVRI Forum 2026 concluded on Oct. 13 at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre in Bangkok. - More than 1,500 global experts, researchers and policymakers from more than 80 countries attended. - Participants gathered to shape the next framework for gender-based violence prevention and response.

The details: - Evidence paired with survivor advocacy can help drive laws and policies that prevent violence against women and children. - Technology is creating new forms of violence, and the forum highlighted the need to treat digital violence as a crime in national law. - Mexico’s Olimpia’s Law was cited as an example of legislation addressing technology-facilitated violence. - Big tech companies and policymakers were urged to adopt safeguarding measures. - Extreme weather and climate disasters raise the risk of violence for women and children. - Climate change is already increasing children’s risk of exploitation, sexual abuse and child marriage in disaster-affected areas. - A landmark COFEM study across 70 countries found feminist movements are the strongest predictor of progressive policy to end violence against women and girls. - The same century-spanning data set found attacks on feminist mobilization can be an early warning sign of democratic erosion. - Child abuse and sexual violence remain widespread and underreported in sports, especially for girls and women athletes.

Between the lines: - The forum positioned violence prevention as a cross-sector issue, not only a criminal justice problem. - The agenda linked gender-based violence to digital regulation, climate resilience, democracy and sports governance. - The focus on survivor stories suggests advocates still see public pressure as essential to translating research into policy.

What's next: - Forum participants are expected to carry the Bangkok discussions into national policy work, advocacy and research. - The push for stronger digital violence laws and safeguarding standards is likely to continue. - Climate adaptation, democratic protection and institutional reform in sports may become more prominent parts of violence-prevention strategies.

The bottom line: - The Bangkok summit ended with a clear message: ending violence against women and children requires coordinated action across law, technology, climate policy, civil society and sport.