As part of the Violence Prevention Forum’s ongoing sharing of evidence and practice-based knowledge, the Violence Prevention Forum hosted three webinars in 2025.

 

This first webinar  titled “Community-led Safety: Rural Strategies That Work.” ,  explored innovative, cross-sector approaches that rural communities in South Africa are using to prevent violence and build safer environments. The conversation recognised that while national debates often focus on crime and security, lasting safety requires community-driven, holistic solutions that address systemic challenges such as poverty, unemployment and exclusion.

 

Panelists shared insights from their work in rural settings and reflected on how locally led safety strategies can inform broader responses to violence and insecurity.

 

 

This webinar will explore how expanding our understanding of childhood sexual violence (CSV) perpetration, particularly adolescent harmful sexual behaviour across offline, online, and blended spaces, can strengthen prevention efforts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Building on the Shared Research Agenda on Child Sexual Violence in LMICs, the session will highlight priority evidence gaps, emerging research on perpetration prevalence and prevention and promising practices from LMIC contexts, including Brazil, India, and the Philippines. Speakers will also examine ethical, social, and legal considerations when working with young people at risk of causing harm. 

 

Date: 21 January 2026

Time: 15:00 (SAST)

 

The SVRI Forum 2026 is 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.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.

 

Closing date: 30 January 2026

Read more: here 

Register: here

 

The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town and the Institute for Security Studies are offering this custom-designed leadership course to enable collaborative relationships across government and civil society stakeholders working to address domestic violence and rape. This course builds leadership capacity to facilitate systemic change and ensure equitable, appropriate, quality services for survivors and their families.

 

The learning journey is practical and experiential, fostering critical and strategic thinking, problem-solving, and relationship building to strengthen collaboration. The ultimate intention is to ensure survivors receive compassionate, linked-up services.

 

Target audience
This course is designed for middle and top management officials in government (South African Police Services, Department of Justice, National Prosecuting Authority, Department of Health, Department of Social Development), NGOs, and funding institutions in the GBV sector.

 

Closing date: 13 February 2026 at 16:00 (SAST)

Read more: here

 

Successful candidates will be notified by email by 13 March 2026.

For queries, please contact: veleska.maphike@uct.ac.za   

Report: 2025 South African Reconciliation Barometer Survey

 

The 2025 South African Reconciliation Barometer offers a nuanced picture of public sentiment one year into the Government of National Unity (GNU). Based on a nationally representative survey, the report highlights a country marked by democratic resilience alongside deep social and political fragility. While many South Africans accepted the outcome of the 2024 elections and remain committed to democracy, trust in political leaders and public institutions remains low.