The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) recently published the Sexual Violence Research Agenda explaining its aim, objectives, activities, and key focus areas. The agenda was created for policy makers, researchers, and advocates to help identify study questions, create funding programs, and develop effective sexual violence services. The aim of the SVRI is to advance research on sexual violence and produce empirical data in order to make sure that sexual violence is viewed as a major public health issue. The SVRI believes that in order to effectively prevent and respond to incidents of sexual violence, there must be more research on the subject. The publication recognizes eight key focus areas for research: nature, prevalence, social context and risk factors associated with sexual violence; appropriateness and effectiveness of sexual violence services; sexual violence prevention; sexual violence and restorative justice; sexual violence in conflict and emergency settings; child sexual abuse; human trafficking for sexual exploitation; and female genital cutting.
Compiled from: Sexual Violence Research Agenda, Sexual Violence Research Initiative (27 May 2009) (PDF, 12 pages).