1st October 2026
Purposeful has decided to withdraw from the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum 2026, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 5th to 9th October. This means we will no longer be delivering our four research presentations or hosting our side event, Until Everyone is Free: Young Activists and Funders Resisting Violence in an Age of Backlash.
This was not an easy decision. The SVRI Forum is a vital space for our movement work around gender-based violence, and we are grateful to the organisers for convening it, especially at a time when this work faces growing pushback and shrinking resources.
However, as a humanitarian and crisis funder, we cannot ignore the floods that have affected parts of Bangkok and many provinces across Thailand. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected, many have lost their homes and livelihoods, and recovery will take time. We know from experience, and from the evidence, that violence against women and girls rises in times of crisis, when homes, support systems and safe spaces are disrupted.
In this moment, we believe our resources are best used to support the girl and young feminist organisers who are responding on the ground: keeping each other safe, meeting urgent needs and holding their communities together. We are redirecting the funds set aside for our participation in the Forum towards these recovery efforts.
We send our warmest wishes to everyone gathering in Bangkok, and look forward to continuing these conversations with the SVRI community and sharing what we learn from this response. Above all, we send our love and solidarity to the people of Thailand living through this crisis.
With care,
Dr. Ramatu Bangura and Rosa Bransky,
Co-CEOs, We Are Purposeful