Call for Abstract: The Silent Violence – Hidden Forms of Abuse

Anchored in law, social science, public health and technology, the conference advances an interdisciplinary agenda to understand, identify and counter psychological, digital and economic abuse, linking research to legislation and legal practice while addressing emerging techno-social forms of coercion and pathways to robust societal responses.

We now invite the submission of abstracts for a conference on 19 March 2026 and for a webinar series to be held during 2026, exploring psychological, digital/technological, and economic/financial violence. The focus is on these silent forms of harm and abuse, the legal frameworks, mechanisms, consequences, and the challenges they pose. Accepted abstracts will be included in the conference as either oral presentations or posters or will form part of the webinar series. Authors attending the conference are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. There is an ambition to publish an edited anthology after the project.

Themes and Focus Areas

We welcome abstracts addressing interdisciplinary challenges, including (but not limited to):

Evidence-based approaches and theories of proof.
Concepts and definitions
Psychological and economical violence and abuse.
The digital/technological dimensions of coercive control, stalking and harassment.
Post-separation abuse.
Institutional and justice system responses.

Submission Instructions

Abstract length: max 300 words
Deadline: 3 January 2026
In case of questions, contact: hanna.grylin@hig.se

Include:

Title of your paper.
Author name(s).
Contact email.
Brief biographical note (max 100 words).
Indicate which theme(s) your paper addresses.
Abstract not longer than 300 words.
Authors/submitters are responsible for obtaining any required ethical approval for their research, and for stating this in their submission when applicable.
Give note if you prefer to be included in the conference or the webinar series

Scholars at all career stages, including doctoral candidates, are warmly invited to submit abstracts!

Submission form

Submit your abstract using the form below. Last day for submission: 3 January 2026

Mail name e-mail:

Title of your paper * (mandatory)

Author name(s) * (mandatory)

Contact e-mail * (mandatory)

Brief biographical note (max 100 words) * (mandatory)

Indicate which theme(s) your paper addresses * (mandatory)

Indicate which theme(s) your paper addresses

Evidence-based approaches and theories of proof
Concepts and definitions
Psychological and economical violence and abuse
The digital/technological dimensions of coercive control, stalking and harassment
Post-separation abuse
Institutional and justice system responses.
Others

Attach your abstract not longer than 300 words * (mandatory)

Authors/submitters are responsible for obtaining any required ethical approval for their research, and for stating this in their submission when applicable

Give note if you prefer to be included in the conference or the webinar series * (mandatory)

Give note if you prefer to be included in the conference or the webinar series

Conference
Webinar series

‘I hereby consent to the University of Gävle collecting this personal data about me for the above purposes. The data will only be saved for as long as it is needed to fulfil the purpose of the collection and will only be used for this purpose. *

If I withdraw my consent or have any other questions about the processing of my personal data, please contact the data protection officer via registrator@hig.se. You can also read more on the website www.hig.se/GDPR.’ *

Organizer

Crime and Social Harms Research Program at University of Gävle, Department of Economics – Discipline of Law at University of Gävle, in collaboration with the Crisis and Transformation Research Profile, Örebro University. The Silent Violence initiative is financially supported by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.