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Who we are
Who we are
ShIVAR is a collaborative community of academics, students, practitioners, policymakers and community partners. Based at the University of Sheffield, we bring together different perspectives and expertise to examine interpersonal violence and abuse across the life course.
Our work explores the forms violence and abuse take, the inequalities that sustain them, and their consequences for individuals, families and communities. We value academic, professional and lived-experience knowledge, and encourage meaningful collaboration across these perspectives.
Our vision
Our vision
Our vision is a society in which everyone can live free from violence and abuse, and those affected can access appropriate, inclusive and effective support.
We work towards this vision by generating knowledge, developing collaborative research and connecting evidence with policy and practice. Through our work, we seek to strengthen prevention, improve responses to abuse and contribute to informed public debate.
Our values
Our values
Safety and dignity: Everyone has the right to live free from violence and abuse and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Recognising gender and power: We recognise that violence and abuse are shaped by gender inequality and unequal power relations, with women and girls disproportionately affected by gender-based violence.
Inclusion and equity: People of all genders can experience violence and abuse. We recognise the experiences of men and boys, LGBTQI+ people and marginalised communities, and seek to challenge inequalities in recognition, protection and access to support.
Belief in change: Violence and abuse are preventable. Challenging harmful gender norms, attitudes and power imbalances is essential to creating safer relationships and communities.
Collective responsibility: Preventing violence and abuse requires action across society. Men and boys have an important role alongside women and girls in challenging inequality and supporting change.
Centring victims-survivors: The voices, experiences and priorities of victims-survivors are central to our work. We value their knowledge and involvement in shaping research, policy and practice.
Our Team
Professor Parveen Ali
Professor of Nursing and Gender-based Violence | ShIVAR Co-lead
Parveen's research focuses on domestic abuse, intimate partner violence and health inequalities related to gender and ethnicity, particularly within minoritised communities. She develops research, educational resources and training to strengthen healthcare professionals’ recognition of and responses to abuse. She is also Editor-in-Chief of International Nursing Review.
View Parveen’s University profile
Professor Michaela Rogers
Professor of Social Work and Gender-based Violence| ShIVAR Co-lead
Michaela’s practice experience spans 30 years in a range of public sector settings and includes over fifteen years working in the domestic abuse sector before moving to children’s social care. Michaela’s portfolio contributes to the fields of gender-based interpersonal violence, equalities, inclusion and diversity, and social work. Her work has a particular emphasis on the experiences of marginalised groups, help-seeking and access to services. Michaela is the Co-Editor of Practice: Social Work in Action.
Dr Loren Parton
Research Associate, School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations | ShIVAR Co-lead
Loren’s research focuses on technology-facilitated violence and abuse, particularly image-based sexual abuse and its consequences for victims-survivors. Her work examines the experiences of marginalised groups, including LGBTQI+ communities, and practitioners’ knowledge of and responses to digital abuse. She is interested in how research can inform policy, professional training and more effective support for those affected. Loren has a practice background as a Probation Officer working in the community and custody, as well as within substance misuse services.
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