The SVRI Forum 2015 saw more than 350 researchers, gender activists, policy makers, practitioners and survivors from around the world convene in Stellenbosch, South Africa, 15–17 September. This global event was hosted by the South Africa Medical Research Council.

SVRI exists to strengthen innovative work in low- and middle-income countries and to bolster partnerships to build capacity to respond effectively to gender-based violence (GBV) in the global South. Forum presentations are available to download here.

Samvedana Plus

Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) researchers presented their latest research on sex work. Parinita Bhattacharjee spoke on the exploratory research in intimate partner relationships at the session on sex work, epidemiology and responses. She presented a paper based on the Samvedana Plus intervention on understanding the complexities of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the sex workers’ relationships. An accompanying poster was also selected for display at the conference.  

During the session on HIV and Violence, Prakash Javalkar shared baseline findings on forms of IPV and associated HIV risk and vulnerability among women in sex work in Karnataka.

Maisha

STRIVE’s Maisha project was also showcased at the event with two presentations by Sheila Harvey and Dr Shelley Lees. Sheila Harvey’s presentation focused on the ways in which Maisha – in Tanzania – adapts and applies the Intervention with Micro-finance for AIDS & Gender Equity (IMAGE) model from South Africa. Dr Lees’ presentation highlighted the everyday lives and IPV experiences of the intervention’s women participants.

STRIVE presentations at SVRI Forum 2015

Tuesday, 15 September

All in the name of love: Involving sex workers and their intimate partners in research related to love, violence and power in intimate relationships using participatory tools in Karnataka, India - Parinita Bhattacharjee

Forms of intimate partner violence and associated HIV risk and vulnerability among women in sex work in Karnataka, India - Prakash Javalkar

Wednesday, 16 September

All in the name of love: Involving sex workers and their intimate partners in research related to love, violence and power in intimate relationships using participatory tools in Karnataka, India - Poster presentation by Parinita Bhattacharjee

The Maisha Trial: Study design and the prevalence of physical and sexual violence at baseline - Sheila Harvey

Understanding the everyday lives and experiences of intimate partner violence of women participating in a microfinance programme in North West Tanzania - Dr Lees

Relevant projects

• Samvedana Plus: Reducing violence and increasing condom use in the intimate partnership of female sex workers
• Maisha: Microfinance and gender training to reduce violence against women 

Resources

• STRIVE at SVRI Forum 2015 – news story
• SVRI Forum 2015 Programme – all presentations are available to download
• Photo gallery – SVRI Forum 2015 Flickr page

Image: Kavitha D L with KHPT poster presentation

Image: Prakash Javalkar, far left, presents at the HIV and Violence session