ISS Today: Using the power of technology to prevent violence against children 

 

Digital parenting support offers a scalable and cost-effective way to prevent violence against children and ensure happy families. Online parenting support can reach families at scale, complement traditional in-person programmes, and make parenting support more affordable and widely available. These tools are designed to empower caregivers, reduce risks of abuse, and foster healthier family relationships. 

 

This ISS Today highlights how accessible, evidence-based online parenting support helps caregivers build skills and create safer homes for children across Africa, drawing on presentations from the ISS webinar on online parenting support.

 

 

 

 

On 26 August 2025, the GIZ Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities programme (VPPIC) hosted a multi-sectoral engagement themed “Early Violence in Practice – Building Safe Futures: Together for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities.” GIZ, which is represented in the Violence Prevention Forum (VPF) Driver Group, convened key partners from government, civil society, academia, international development cooperation, and prevention practitioners to introduce the VPPIC Programme, promote knowledge exchange, and create a platform to strengthen partnerships for early violence prevention.

 

“This is the beginning of a journey for VPPIC. At the same time, the sector, the evidence, the policy, and the work already exist. We are cognizant that we are entering a long journey, and VPPIC is here to support in creating an enabling environment for children to thrive,” said Joan Moeketsi, VPPIC Programme Manager.

 

Commissioned in 2024, VPPIC focuses on early intervention in violence prevention, particularly for children aged 0–12 and their caregivers. The programme works to improve structural conditions for evidence-based, gender-responsive approaches and adopts a whole-of-society, life-cycle approach to preventing violence. Its efforts centre on three key outputs: localised implementation, multi-stakeholder coordination, and the institutionalisation of early intervention in violence prevention.

 

With strong messages of support from the German Embassy and a compelling call from South African government partners for continued financial and technical backing, the event highlighted valuable contributions from academia, civil society, and the faith sector. The engagement reaffirmed the power of evidence-informed collaboration to stop violence before it begins. More than a dialogue, it served as a unifying platform to strengthen multi-sectoral coordination and reinforced a collective commitment to driving lasting change for children, families, and communities.

 

Join Tales of Turning in this insightful webinar to discover key findings from a digital peacebuilding project piloted in Somalia. This initiative uses cutting-edge data analyses to gain a deeper understanding of hate speech and mis/disinformation in Somalia. Big data is collected and analysed to inform innovative interventions.

 

Next, grass-roots organisations are trained to use these insights to facilitate digital dialogue that curtails misinformation/disinformation and hate speech online. Additionally, key stakeholders are trained to use social media to amplify messages of peace in their communities. The aim of this pilot was to create a sustainable model for digital peacebuilding in Somalia that can be scaled for increased impact and applied to different contexts.

Date: 16 September 2025

Time: 18:00 SAST

 

Interpersonal violence is a major public health issue in South Africa and a leading cause of lost healthy life-years. It includes child abuse, peer violence, intimate partner violence, and community-based violence across the lifespan. Understanding how violence is transmitted across generations is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

 

Join the Interrupt Violence project team for a free webinar where they will share findings from their longitudinal, multi-generational, mixed-method study in Mpumalanga. The research followed adolescents, children aged 6–17, and former caregivers to explore the prevalence, mechanisms, and interruptions of intergenerational violence.

 

The team will present emerging insights on the forms and transmission of violence, social determinants at individual and family levels, consequences for survivors, and help-seeking patterns. They will also highlight potential areas for family-level interventions, including parenting strategies, to break the cycle of violence and promote safer, healthier communities.

Date: 16 September 2025

Time: 18:00 SAST

 

The SVRI Forum 2026 is the world’s leading conference dedicated to research, evidence, and solutions to prevent and respond to violence against women and children. This dynamic and action-driven event brings together over 1,000 global stakeholders—including researchers, practitioners, policymakers, funders, and activists—to share cutting-edge research, challenge the status quo, and co-create solutions for a world free from violence. 

 

Registration is now open via the Oxford Abstracts platform. Early registration ends on 28 February 2026, with standard registration from 1 March to 15 August 2026. 

 

 

 

The SVRI Forum 2026 is now inviting researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to submit abstracts for consideration. This is your opportunity to share evidence, insights, and innovations that contribute to the prevention and response to violence against women and children.

 

Abstracts should be submitted via the Oxford Abstracts platform. They will be reviewed by the Scientific Committee and, if accepted, grouped into thematic panel sessions that reflect the core areas of the Forum. Submissions should clearly highlight objectives, methodology, key findings, and implications for practice, policy, or research.

 

Accepted abstracts will be featured in the Forum programme, providing global visibility for your work and an opportunity to engage with a wide network of experts. Ensure your submission follows the guidelines carefully to maximize the chances of acceptance and to contribute meaningfully to the Forum’s dialogue.

 

Deadline for submission: 30 January 2026

 

Funding Opportunity for African-Led Organizations

 

The African Collaborative is inviting applications from organizations that are African-founded, African-led, and based in Africa for a unique funding opportunity. Successful applicants will receive unrestricted funding ranging from $50,000 to $125,000 per year over a three-year period, along with tailored capacity-building support to meet each organization's specific needs. This initiative aims to provide organizations with the flexibility to invest in what is most important for their missions and communities.

 

To be eligible, organizations must meet the following criteria:
- Be legally registered in their country
- Have a founding board
- Employ at least some paid staff
- Have been operating for a minimum of three years
- Maintain basic financial systems with consecutive external audits
- Have an annual budget of at least $150,000

 

The funding is available in two tracks: "Ignite" for organizations at an early growth stage, and "Fuel" for those that are already experiencing growth.

 

Closing date: 17 September 2025