About ShIVAR

Who we are

The University of Sheffield Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Research (ShIVAR) Network is an interdisciplinary group, with members coming from a range of backgrounds and disciplines including health, social sciences, arts and humanities. With a belief that an interdisciplinary approach to understanding gender-based interpersonal violence and abuse is essential, the group’s focus is on the various forms that violence takes and the multiple consequences that affect the life of individuals, families and children. Everyone is welcome to join and get involved in academic research, wider participatory projects and discussion.

Our vision

The ShIVAR Network aims to provide a platform for individuals, researchers, practitioners and those interested in the subject to network with each other, share ideas and develop projects. Ultimately, we can as a group, identify interdisciplinary collaborative ways of working, inform policy, practice and debate and generate new knowledge. 

Our values 

• Everyone has a right to live their life free from violence and abuse

• Everyone can experience and perpetrate violence, though women and girls are most affected as victims/survivors.

• Stopping gender-based, interpersonal violence against women and girls is critical.

• Gender inequality and the imbalance of power between men and women contributes to violence against women girls.

• We believe that it is possible to change gender power dynamics to prevent violence against women and girls.

• Men have an important role to play in creating a violence-free world.

• To end violence against women and girls, we believe that gendered norms and attitudes needs to change.

• While we argue that women and girls are most affected by gender-based violence and abuse, we recognise that sexual and gender minority individuals are also affected by high levels of interpersonal violence.

• The voices and experiences of victims/survivors are central to the work of the ShIVAR Network.