ACCESS 2 proudly supported three Cambodian delegates attending the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum 2024, held from 21–25 October in Cape Town, South Africa. The SVRI Forum is the world’s largest conference focused on violence against women, children, and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) in low- and middle-income countries. The event provided a platform for professionals worldwide to connect, share insights, and strengthen partnerships, all aimed at building evidence to inform efforts to eliminate violence.
The Cambodian delegates included:
- Sar Sineth, Director of the Legal Protection Department, Ministry of Women’s Affairs
- Socheat Thak, Executive Director, Cambodia Women’s Crisis Centre
- Makara Bou, ACCESS 2 Gender-Based Violence Lead
Participation in the SVRI Forum enabled these delegates to broaden their perspectives on research, prevention, and service responses to GBV. The knowledge and experiences gained will be brought back to Cambodia, where they will contribute to enhancing government and civil society responses, service delivery, referrals, and GBV prevention efforts. This participation aligns with ACCESS 2’s commitment to capacity building and localising best practices for combatting GBV.
The Forum featured a variety of learning and skills-building events, allowing delegates to engage with innovative strategies aimed at creating safe environments for women and children. Attendees explored the latest research, including effective and emerging approaches in preventing and responding to violence, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries.
Through sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions, and peer-to-peer dialogues, the Cambodian delegates gained insights from global experts, program leaders, and researchers. These experiences provided practical knowledge that will be applied in Cambodia to improve GBV initiatives.
The SVRI Forum drew over 1,000 delegates, including researchers, activists, practitioners, policymakers, representatives from UN agencies and government bodies, journalists, donors, and private-sector entities. This diverse representation facilitated rich discussions and networking opportunities that will benefit ACCESS 2’s ongoing work.
Reflections from Cambodian Delegates:
- Socheat Thak, Executive Director, Cambodia Women’s Crisis Centre:
“Attending SVRI 2024 offered me an invaluable opportunity to learn from global leaders in sexual violence prevention, connecting research with practice. The insights gained will greatly enhance my work in Cambodia, fostering collaboration to develop effective solutions.” - Makara Bou, ACCESS 2 GBV Lead:
“This was a milestone in my professional journey, as I learned from experienced GBV experts from around the world. The knowledge and networks gained will be instrumental in advancing Cambodia’s GBV prevention and response work.”
