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Dear VPF Friends,
Welcome to the Violence Prevention Forum newsletter. On a bi-weekly basis we will be sharing research, resources, upcoming events and opportunities. We hope you find this a useful resource.
For any resources and events you'd like to share in this newsletter or queries, contact vpf@issafrica.org.
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Planet Youth Data Insights Workshop: Grappling with what the data is revealing about youth wellbeing in the Western Cape
On 15 September 2025, provincial leaders from civil society, government, and research came together at the Planet Youth Data Insights Workshop held at Tygerberg Hospital. The event was organised by the Violence Prevention Unit (VPU) at the Western Cape Department of Health, which is part of a Western Cape Violence Prevention driver group. The workshop aimed to discuss the findings from the first-ever provincial survey on youth wellbeing, which involved 123 schools and over 49 000 learners in grades 8 and 9. The survey looked at various aspects of young people’s lives, including safety, belonging, and well-being at home, at school, and within communities.
The survey results paint a complex picture of what it is like to be a young person living in the Western Cape - 33% of learners reported being physically assaulted by another learner; 40% had drunk alcohol in their lifetime; and 47% of learners had missed breakfast or lunch in the past 7 days. Some of the results were surprisingly positive and encouraging — 84% of learners said they enjoy school; 68% felt that adults in their school cared about them; 77% said they find it easy to receive care and warmth from parents; and 71% said their mental health is good.
As stakeholders engaged with the responses, they recognised the role of families, communities, and schools in shaping young people's lives, the importance of early intervention in breaking cycles of violence and hardship, and the need to change harmful social norms.
This was one of many engagements to follow, aimed at making sense of the findings and building collaborations towards violence prevention.
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Webinar: Behind the Buzz, What Really Drives Social Norms Change for Adolescent Girls and Young Women? – Global Evidence with Insights from India, Kenya and Nigeria
This interactive webinar by the Social Norms and Agency Learning Collaborative will explore what really drives social norms change to improve outcomes for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Drawing on insights from a global review and case studies from Kenya, Nigeria, and India, the session will dive into women’s economic empowerment, gender-based violence, child marriage, and sexual and reproductive health.
Date: 25 September 2025
Time: 15:00 (CEST)
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Webinar: Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education Institutions - Evidence, Gaps, and Future Directions
This webinar will mark the official launch of the final report from our multi-method research programme exploring gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education institutions (HEIs) across Africa and the Middle East. The moderated panel discussion will provide an opportunity to reflect on the findings, share perspectives on the current landscape, and explore opportunities for advancing GBV prevention and response in HEIs
Date: 29 September 2025
Time: 15:00-16:00 SAST |
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Call for abstracts
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
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Call for Papers: Research Workshop on School-Related Violence Prevention & Response
The Center for Global Development invites submissions for its upcoming Research Workshop on School-Related Violence Prevention and Response, to be held in person on 10-11 February , 2026, in Washington, D.C. This 1½-day event will bring together economists, education and public health experts, and practitioners from around the world to examine what drives violence in and around schools in low- and middle-income countries, and to explore interventions, policies, and legal frameworks that can help prevent it.
The organizers are especially interested in papers addressing: measurement and methodological innovations in capturing school-related violence; the causes and consequences of such violence for learning, wellbeing, and future opportunities; the effects of interventions and policies aimed at reducing violence; and the linkages between school violence and violence in other settings. Full paper submissions (with quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods) are welcome.
Closing date: 15 October 2025 |
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Publication: Educational booklet for parents and caregivers on early childhood development
Drawing on the findings of our 2024 South African Child Gauge, the Children's Institute and UNICEF South Africa have created a guide on early childhood development for mothers, fathers, and caregivers.
The purpose of the booklet is to strengthen the capacity of families to understand and support the development of children, beginning with pregnancy. The publication also informs parents and caregivers about the services that they are entitled to. It guides its readers on:
- What young children need to thrive
- A healthy pregnancy
- The first two years
- The preschool child
- Children and families needing extra care and support
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