The process to develop the Murad Code and larger project of which it forms part is currently in its sixth phase. The current phase is funded by the Government of Canada. Phases 1 to 5 were supported by funding and in-kind support by the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) of the UK Government, the Institute for International Criminal Investigations (IICI), Nadia’s Initiative and other partners.

How was the Code developed?

PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

PHASE 4

PHASE 5

PHASE 6

PHASE 6

The 6th phase will last from 2023-26. This phase will focus on building on the foundations of the work done in 2019-23, and working with partners around the globe to drive forward:

  • The improved implementation of the minimum standards distilled in the Code by documenters, investigators, funders, humanitarians, governments, inter-governmental organisations, journalists and others 

  • The use of the Code by survivors to demand respect for their human rights during documentation and other information-gathering processes

  • Improved collaboration and cooperation between and within sectors.

PHASE 4

The 4th phase focused on globally consulting with and requesting feedback from survivors and other experts and stakeholders from different sectors on the Draft Murad Code and other aspects of the larger Murad Code project, including the survivor’s toolkit, the “survivors’ charter” or survivors’ perspectives resource, and the set of practical Code-implementation tools and guidance. The April 2022 or ‘working’ version of the Murad Code was released during the 4th phase. 

Watch the recording of the webinar to release the working version of the Murad Code in April 2022.

PHASE 2

The 2nd phase involved in-person, remote and written preliminary discussions or soundings with a wide array of practitioners, survivors and other stakeholders on the concept of a global code of conduct and on core standards which should be included in a code, as well as on other components of the project. Using a template of questions shared prior to the soundings, most meetings lasted between 2-3 hours. This phase took place from July 2019 to February 2020.

PHASE 1

The 1st phase involved comparative research across different fields to identify and analyse existing codes of conduct, best practices and guidelines relevant for conflict-related sexual violence documentation. This was to assess and compare core standards and to gain insights from all groups who engage with survivors. 

PHASE 3

The 3rd phase entailed the preparation of the Draft Murad Code. It was drafted based on the research and soundings. It was launched in June 2020 for global consultations and further development.

PHASE 5

The 5th phase involved, among other elements, the translation of the Code into additional languages, providing remote technical advice and other support to various civil society, governmental, inter-governmental and other actors on the importance and integration of the Code into their work. It also involved a discussion about ideas for implementing the Code within and across different sectors, and otherwise raising more awareness about the Code, including through the IICI-hosted panel discussion at the PSVI International Conference in November 2022 in London.

The development of the Code: An in-depth look at the global consultation process and feedback

As part of the launch of this website in June 2020, the “Draft Global Code of Conduct for Investigating and Documenting Conflict-Related Sexual Violence” – the Draft Murad Code – was presented for global consultations and further development.

Survivors, governments, documenters, donors, other practitioners and organisations from across sectors and the world were encouraged to engage with the Draft Code and the larger Murad Code project and to share their insights with a view to building consensus around a powerful Code and project with wide support. They were encouraged to read the Draft Murad Code with the background paper of which it forms part before submitting feedback on the Draft Code and other aspects of the project.

One of the core principles of IICI’s approach to the Murad Code project is to make best efforts to ensure an inclusive, collaborative process reaching to access as many different perspectives from different lived experiences and contexts, and professions as possible. At the heart of this has been the central engagement of SCRSV survivors from all around the world to help steer and shape the Code and other project components throughout all stages and phases.

During the global consultation phase, IICI facilitated a series of dedicated survivor consultations, through which SCRSV survivors were engaged during workshops discussing and listening to their views and experiences of when others documented the SCRSV which they have experienced. These views fed directly into the Code, and the ongoing development of the survivors’ perspectives resource and survivor’s toolkit. We also engaged survivors in:

  • 1:1 consultative conversations

  • thematic and regional roundtables

  • the process to generate written reviews of the Draft Code

  • online workshops to help finalise the latest version of the Code. 

Overall, IICI understands that 72 people who identify as survivors participated in these various engagements, coming from 17 countries including: Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina (“B & H”), Burundi, Canada, Colombia, the DRC, Iraq (including the Kurdistan region of Iraq), Kenya, Liberia, Nepal, Rwanda, Uganda, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Venezuela.

The group-survivor consultations were organised with partners in B & H, Colombia, the DRC, Uganda, Ukraine and Nepal. These partners included Nadia’s Initiative, the Mukwege Foundation/SEMA Network, AMERUV, Men of Hope and Refugee Law Project. 

The survivors ranged in age from 25-72 years of age, had diverse levels of education (from secondary school up to advanced university degrees) and were varied in terms of urban/rural residence and income levels. 71% identified as women, 20% as men, 2% non-binary and 7% other. Survivors also come from LBGTQI+ communities, indigenous and marginalised ethnic groups. Some were displaced (IDPs and refugees). Some of the women had children born from the crimes against them, and some of the survivors (while adults now) were children at the time of the crimes against them.

After having processed the large volume of insightful feedback received before April 2021, areas that would benefit from more in-depth expert consultations were identified. Roundtable discussions and other expert talks were held from October 2021 to early 2022. These more in-depth discussions focused on, among other areas, the Draft Code and:

  • people with disabilities

  • survivors who document SCRSV

  • LGBTQI+ rights

  • child rights

  • the Middle East

  • Latin America.

Including participating survivors, IICI estimates that 337 individuals or organisations from at least 64 different countries have provided feedback. The feedback was relatively evenly spread across a range of disciplines including humanitarian and protection actors; human rights actors including women, LGBTQI+, child and disability rights specialists; the media; national and international justice actors; academic researchers; the military and security sector; private and governmental donors; and international affairs and policy actors. 

A summary of the feedback obtained during this consultation process can be accessed here. A full unabridged collation of the feedback which has been de-identified can be accessed here. At this time, both these sources are available only in English.