Bournemouth University’s Sexual Violence Research Group is to host its first conference to bring together academics and practitioners from around the country to discuss their latest research into how to tackle these crimes.
As well as University staff, the conference will be attended by police officers from a number of forces and victim support charities such as ACTS FASTS, Justice and Care and STARS.
Dr Kari Davies, Principal Lecturer in Psychology at Bournemouth University set up the Sexual Violence Research Group in 2022. The group brings together people conducting research into the causes and context, and prevention of, sexual violence in a range of different settings, looking to share their findings and discuss solutions and best practices.
Attendees at the conference will look at several themes include how sexual violence is investigated, understanding victims and supporting their wellbeing, understanding sexually violent offenders, and the wider context of sexual violence.
“Despite a large number of high-profile cases and repeated pledges about tackling the issue, sexual violence continues to devastate people’s lives,” said Dr Sarah Hambidge, Lecturer in Psychology at Bournemouth University and one of the organisers of the conference. “This conference is a chance for people around the country who have researched the issue to come together with others from law enforcement and charities to explore the causes of sexual violence and how to prevent it.” she added.
BU currently has around 30 students and staff from all four faculties researching this subject. Dr Davies and Dr Hambidge hope this will become an annual conference for the members of the Sexual Violence Research Group and external academic and practitioners, to come together to hear about the newest research being conducted at BU.
The conference is being held in person at the Cumberland Hotel Bournemouth on 28th and 29th October. Anyone looking for further information can contact Kari Davies on [email protected].
