Violence is preventable.

The Violence Prevention Forum is a platform for dialogue between stakeholders who have the shared purpose of a creating a violence-free South Africa.

“What I found was a caring multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral group who wanted to create safety and give meaning to freedom. What I realised was that the road ahead was long and required resilience and courage. They would go where others fear to go. I left humbled, grateful and appreciative. I had returned home. I am a changed person. I now realise that violence prevention requires more than just financial resourcing but also collaboration between government and society, among NGOs, between parents and their children, and basically EVERYONE.”

VPF participant

“Grappling with the challenge of endemic violence is an essential part of overcoming the harms of our past to build a unified and prosperous society. If we want our country to be safe, we have to start paying greater attention to children’s needs. That means creating an enabling environment for love and warmth to replace anger, conflict, and self-hate. It means building healthy relationships, between men and women, parents and children.”

Chandré Gould in a speech during a visit to SA by World Childhood Foundation founder, Queen Silvia of Sweden

Who we are

The Violence Prevention Forum, founded in 2015, is a platform for dialogue between policymakers, researchers, NGOs, social movements, donors, and representatives of the private sector who have the shared purpose of creating a South Africa that is violence-free.

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The VPF is convened by the Institute for Security Studies. A diverse Driver Group determines its strategic direction. The Driver Group includes representatives from government, development partners, research institutions, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and donor organisations.

What we do

The VPF bridges the gap between evidence, policy and practice, by bringing people from diverse sectors together to think, plan, share information and knowledge, and build relationships to enable collaboration and partnership.

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