International researchers and practitioners have stressed the need for research and evidence-based approaches to develop effective, long-term systems to prevent and respond to violence against women and children.
They made the call at an international media briefing on the SVRI Forum 2026 on Tuesday afternoon.
Speakers said public attention often intensifies following high-profile cases, but sustained research and evidence are needed to strengthen prevention and justice systems beyond individual incidents.
The five-day SVRI Forum 2026, organized by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) and the Prevention Collective, will be held in Bangkok from October 5 to 9.
More than 1,500 researchers, practitioners, policymakers, survivors, funders and advocates are expected to attend the forum, which will feature more than 650 presentations based on research from 80 countries.
Key topics will include technology-facilitated gender-based violence, online child sexual abuse, image-based abuse, artificial intelligence-related risks, climate change and gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and violence against children.
The briefing also highlighted the role of journalists in reporting on violence against women and children.
Journalists were urged to adopt trauma-informed approaches and protect survivors’ dignity, privacy and identities when reporting such cases.