The SVRI, with the support of the Kering Foundation, is offering doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships for early-career researchers based in low- and middle-income countries. These fellowships aim to build leadership, strengthen research capacity, and advance knowledge on the often over-looked links between violence against women and violence against children.

In 2026, we have awarded two postdoctoral fellowships to support locally led research that is impactful, sustainable, and grounded in the realities of low and middle-income countries. This initiative is part of a multi-year research programme by the Kering Foundation, in partnership with SVRI and McGill University­ – to address violence against women and violence against children.

In Partnership With:

Background

Recognition of the deep connections between violence against women and violence against children is growing, yet the evidence base remains limited, fragmented, and underdeveloped. Most research focuses on the intersections between intimate partner violence against women and child maltreatment within the home, with limited evidence on other forms of violence against women and violence against children.

An early global review – findings of which were first shared at SVRI Forum 2013 – identified six key areas of intersection: shared risk factors; harmful social norms that drive perpetration and discourage help- seeking; high rates of co-occurrence, particularly within households; intergenerational impacts; overlapping and compounding consequences throughout life; and adolescence as a critical period of heightened vulnerability to both violence against women and violence against children.

A systematic review of intimate partner violence and violence against children co-occurrence in low and middle-income countries confirmed a significant link between intimate partner violence and child maltreatment but also highlighted major gaps in the evidence. Few studies examined risk factors for co-occurring violence within households, and findings were often contradictory. Research rarely measured male-perpetrated violence against children or female-perpetrated intimate partner violence, and definitions and measures of violence varied widely. These gaps, alongside a lack of gender and power analysis and few longitudinal studies, limit understanding of the relationships between, and the risk and protective factors associated with, co-occurring violence against women and violence against children. Identifying programmes that effectively address both violence against children and violence against children is essential for developing integrated, evidence-based approaches.

A recent rapid systematic review explored these intersections, identifying 29 effective interventions from 15 countries that work across both forms of violence. Interventions identified, include 18 primary prevention initiatives (mostly from low and middle-income countries) and 11 response interventions (mostly from high-income countries). While some were designed to address violence against women and violence against children intersections, most focused on either intimate partner violence or child maltreatment, with limited attention to the other form of violence. Few interventions combined prevention and response, and little evidence exists on ineffective or harmful approaches. Methodological issues, including inconsistent definitions and high risks of bias, further restrict understanding.

About the Fellowship

Too often, research on violence against women and violence against children in low and middle-income countries is led and funded by institutions in high-income countries. This skews priorities and limits relevance. Locally led research, on the other hand, is more impactful, more sustainable, and better aligned with community needs.

Through this fellowship, SVRI–with the support of the Kering Foundation­–is investing in early-career researchers in low and middle-income countries who are committed to building the evidence and action needed to prevent violence and promote the rights and wellbeing of women and children.

Fellowship Objectives

The SVRI Early-Career Researcher Fellowships aim to:

• Strengthen the evidence base on the intersections of violence against women and violence against children.
• Build leadership and research capacity among early-career researchers in low and middle-income countries.
• Support the publication and dissemination of locally generated knowledge.
• Foster regional and global networks of feminist, equity-driven researchers.

Fellowship Winners 2026

AFREENBANU A. KHADIRNAVAR

Afreenbanu holds a PhD in Psychiatric Social Work from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. She also works as a Consultant Psychotherapist at Aweksha, a centre supporting women survivors of violence. Her research interests include gender-based violence, technology-facilitated abuse, women’s mental health, and reproductive and perinatal mental health in South Asia.

Project: Maternal Intimate Partner Violence and Child Victimisation: Evidence from an Urban Indian Birth Cohort

Violence against women and violence against children often co-occur within families in India, yet little is known about how these experiences unfold. Using data from the Bangalore Child Health and Development Study, this project will examine how mothers’ experiences of intimate partner violence from pregnancy may influence children’s exposure to violence during adolescence. It will also explore how parenting practices, family relationships, and repeated violence against women shape these pathways. Findings will help identify opportunities for integrated family-based approaches to prevent violence and support safer, healthier futures for women and children.

“Through my work with women survivors of violence and in mental health research, I have come to recognise how the experiences of women and children are deeply connected, yet they are often studied separately. I would like to understand these links more precisely and help strengthen efforts to prevent and respond to family violence in more integrated, effective ways.”

JORGE BRUERA

Jorge holds a PhD in Psychology from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. He is also a member of the Violence Research Group (GrIV), affiliated with UNC and CONICET. His research focuses on different forms of violence and their associated factors, with particular interest in childhood victimisation, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence among adolescents and adults in Argentina.

Project: The Intersection Between Violence Against Women (VAW) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Argentina: Co-Designing Recommendations

Evidence suggests that violence experienced during childhood can increase the risk of intimate partner violence during adolescence. However, evidence from low- and middle-income countries remains limited, and prevention initiatives rarely address both issues together. This project will explore how these forms of violence are related in Argentina and identify opportunities to develop more integrated prevention strategies. By combining research, policy analysis, and collaboration with key stakeholders, the project aims to generate practical recommendations to support more effective, evidence-based responses to violence affecting children and adolescents.

What motivates me most is understanding how violence can affect people’s lives over time. By studying the links between violence against children and violence against women, I hope to contribute knowledge that supports effective prevention efforts and helps create safer environments for children, adolescents, and women.”