Launch of "Murad Code" on International Day for the Elimination of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF LAUNCH OF DRAFT MURAD CODE FOR GLOBAL CONSULTATIONS
Today, the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, sees the launch of the draft Global Code of Conduct for the Documentation and Investigation of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. It is named the “Murad Code,” after Nadia Murad, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Too often, despite good intentions, the important work of documenting conflict-related sexual violence is not truly survivor-centric, and is not as safe, ethical or effective as it should be. Many survivors have been harmed through their involvement in documentation processes. The Murad Code project is a global collaborative initiative aimed at building and supporting a community of better documentation practice. A widely supported code of conduct for reporters, researchers, documenters and investigators can help achieve greater respect for survivors’ rights and better outcomes for survivors, documenters and the wider local, national and international communities.
The draft Murad Code resonates with a central theme of this international day: a survivor-centred response to such violence. The reported and likely impacts of the covid-19 pandemic include increased sexual violence, fewer resources for documentation and justice, and pressure to compromise on documentation standards, for example, to do remotely what should be done in person – this adds urgency to the need for the Murad Code.
The draft Murad Code was developed through an intensive and inspiring process of inter-disciplinary research and in-depth preliminary discussions with more than 160 survivors, national and international documenters, humanitarians, researchers, donors and other experts from across the globe.
The product of that process is now launched for broader in-depth global consultations and further development. Those who document, investigate, research or report on such violence, policy-makers, donors and survivors are requested to join the effort to achieve safer and better outcomes for the documentation of conflict-related sexual violence, initially by providing feedback on the draft Murad Code and on questions such as whether the final Code should have some form of implementation-support mechanism.
Please visit www.muradcode.com for guidance on how to provide feedback before 1 December 2020. Please also circulate this announcement and invitation through your networks. The website contains more information about the background to the draft Code, its development and other important components of the project.
The development of the draft Murad Code was led by the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI) (www.iici.global) with support from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/preventing-sexual-violence-in-conflict-initiative), and in consultation with Nadia’s Initiative (www.nadiasinitiative.org).
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ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The challenge: There are persistent and growing reports that some documenters, ranging from international bodies and police investigators to NGOs and journalists, do not know, understand, or uphold guidance and best practice on the documentation of conflict-related sexual violence. Ineffective and unsafe documentation practice, however well-intentioned, causes or exacerbates harm suffered by survivors, violates their human rights, undermines trust in the rule of law and damages their prospects for accountability and redress. A widely supported and implemented global code of conduct will be an important response to this challenge.
Main interlinked goals of the Murad Code project:
· Distil existing minimum or core standards which are critical for safe, effective and survivor-centric investigation and documentation of conflict-related sexual violence through the development and implementation of a globally supported code of conduct. The goal is not to create new core standards.
· Strengthen respect for, and fulfilment of, survivors’ and witnesses’ human rights, including with regards to dignity, privacy, health, safety, justice, remedies and development.
· Reduce and ultimately prevent further harm, including re-traumatisation, being caused to survivors.
· Generally, enhance the effectiveness of such documentation efforts, thus improving the chances of better outcomes for survivors, and, consequently, for those who document and the wider local, national and international communities.
· Set in place support systems and provide practical guidance to ensure all actors can commit and adhere to the Murad Code, in their respective roles, without creating any insurmountable barriers to those willing and able to act in the best interests of survivors.
Outlines of main initial phases of Murad Code project:
· July 2019 – June 2020: Extensive comparative research; preliminary discussions (“soundings”) with 166 key actors and stakeholders from different sectors and across the globe; development of the draft Murad Code based on the research and soundings; and launch of draft Murad Code.
· Post-launch, June 2020 to end 2021:
o Written, in-person and remote global consultations on draft Murad Code and other components of project.
o Finalisation of Murad Code and related publications.
o Launch of, among other publications, the final Murad Code, a commentary on the Code (with practical examples to support application across settings), a “survivors’ charter” (which will add the voices and requests of survivors to the Code, helping documenters understand and apply the Code), and a Code-implementation roadmap setting out options for any necessary Code-support system (including implementation tools for different sectors).
2022 and beyond: Supporting implementation of the Murad Code and other components in order to ensure survivor-centric, safe, ethical and effective documentation which would help secure justice and reparations for conflict-related sexual violence.