The Sexual Violence Research Podcast SVRI

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, SVRIFind 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, SVRIFind 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.

What works and what doesn’t in reducing violence driven by gender inequality? While many teams around the world search for the perfect intervention methods to address this pervasive issue, finding out whether those interventions actually work is extremely difficult.

In this episode we discuss the effectiveness and drawbacks of complex evaluation methods, like randomised controlled trials, and learn why they may not capture the nuance and complexity of violence interventions. The panel shares their experiences of RCTs and other unique methods of evaluating interventions. And we hear why greater collaboration and openness is needed, as intervention teams are encouraged to share their methods more widely. 

Our guests are:

Lucie Cluver, Professor at Oxford University in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation

Laxman Belbase, global co-director of the MenEngage Alliance.

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI

Find out more at svri.org.

To shift the balance of power and control, to end violence driven by gender inequality, we need deep systemic change. Creating just and inclusive systems for change requires more funding for research - and that funding needs to support the communities at the frontline of violence. 

In this episode we learn about global collaborative Co-Impact’s radical new approach to philanthropy in disrupting and challenging existing power structures. We discuss the need to develop capacity for local fundraising and altruism. We learn what it means to have ‘sustainable’ change. And we hear inspirational examples of how feminist activism has been able to shift social norms for the better.

Our guests are:

Varja Lipovsek, Director of Learning, Measurement and Evaluation at Co-Impact

Duncan Green, Senior Strategic Adviser at Oxfam GB, and Author of How Change Happens

Your host is:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRIFind out more at svri.org.

Check out our ranking in FeedSpot's Top 10 Best South Africa Research Podcasts list.

“Change starts from within us.” With so many important goals to achieve, it can be difficult to remember the importance of prioritising health and happiness. But what if we approached work and life with more kindness, focussing on our wellbeing and the welfare of everyone around us?

In this episode we explore the concept of ‘collective care’ - the practice of taking responsibility for the wellbeing of each other, as individuals and as a community. We examine the very real dangers faced by women and children around the world, specifically in the sphere of activism, and how collective care can support and heal those vulnerable to attacks. We also discuss the importance of integrating collective care into our organisations, what this can look like, and what the future holds.

Our guests are:

Natsnet Ghebrebrhan, Director, VAW Prevention Team at Raising Voices

Jean Kemitare, Programmes Director at Urgent Action Fund Africa.

Your hosts are:

Elizabeth Dartnall, Executive Director, SVRI

Ayesha Mago, Global Advocacy Director, SVRI 

Find out more at svri.org.