29 May 2026: SERENA research recognised at the 11th World Conference on Women's Studies

On 29 May 2026, SERENA research was presented at the 11th World Conference on Women's Studies (WCWS) during an online session bringing together researchers from Asian universities and women's rights organisations. The presentation, delivered by Maria Roth (Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania) on behalf of the SERENA consortium, explored the experiences of women survivors of child maltreatment participating in research and highlighted the importance of survivor engagement in shaping ethical and meaningful research practices. The session was attended by approximately 15 participants, and the presentation received the conference's Overall Best Presenter Award, recognising both its scientific quality and its contribution to discussions on gender, violence and participatory research.

Contributions from SERENA partners

• Maria Roth presented "Voices of Women Survivors of Child Maltreatment Participating in Research," drawing on findings from multinational research involving adult survivors of child maltreatment across several European countries. The presentation examined the ethical, legal and methodological considerations involved in engaging survivors in research, emphasising the importance of recognising lived experience as a valuable source of knowledge for improving child protection policies and services. The study combined an international online survey with interviews and focus groups to explore how participants perceive their identities as victims and survivors, and how these perspectives influence their willingness to engage in research.

The presentation highlighted that participation in research can have important personal and social benefits for survivors. Participants described research as an opportunity to validate their lived experiences, contribute to greater public understanding of child maltreatment and support improvements in professional practice. Findings also showed that the concepts of victim and survivor are not mutually exclusive but may evolve throughout different stages of an individual's life and recovery process. The research emphasised the need for researchers to balance appropriate protection of participants with recognition of their agency, resilience and expertise, supporting more participatory and ethically grounded approaches to child maltreatment research.

Impact and outcomes

The presentation generated discussion among participants from universities and women's rights organisations on the role of survivor participation in research addressing violence against children and women. Receiving the Overall Best Presenter Award recognised the quality and relevance of the work and highlighted the importance of incorporating lived experience into child maltreatment research. Through its participation in WCWS 2026, SERENA strengthened the visibility of its research within the international community working on gender, child protection and participatory research, reinforcing the project's commitment to producing evidence that informs more inclusive, ethical and survivor-centred research practices.