Using the Murad Code to Demand Reparations and Recognition in Côte d’Ivoire
On November 25 and 26, seven leaders from the community of Ivorian survivors of conflict-related sexual violence participated in a two-day dialogue centred on the Murad Code. Through engaging with the Murad Code, survivors learned about their rights when facing the many actors who have and will continue to collect information about their stories and their ongoing struggles. As one survivor participant explained,
“The Murad Code has taught us that we have rights and how to ask that they be upheld by those who interact with us.”
The discussions were more than an exchange of ideas—they fostered solidarity and collective transformation amongst survivors. Supported by a mental health and psychosocial support practitioner, the two days of dialogue were also an opportunity for peers to share their experiences of a similar path of struggle and rebuilding.
The Murad Code project
This event was the first of three community-level dialogues that the Murad Code project will support around the globe between 2024-26. These dialogues provide an opportunity for the Murad Code project team to learn from survivors of systematic and conflict-related sexual violence about how they might use the Code as a tool to advocate for themselves and the realisation of their rights when engaging those who gather and use their information.“ Learning about the Murad Code, built my capacity” explained a participant, “ I did not know about the Code and I was not even aware that I had so many rights.”
Seeking Redress in a Stagnant System
The Commission for Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation, established in the aftermath of a period of intense post-electoral violence in Côte d’Ivoire in 2011, found that sexual violence was common throughout the country and committed by all parties to the conflicts that occurred between 1990 and 2011. Survivors in Côte d’Ivoire have long struggled with the slow pace of justice, minimal reparations, and an absence of clear standards among the institutions and authorities with responsibility for addressing their needs. As one participant put it, “We need the authorities to recognise that survivors [of conflict related sexual violence] exist here and that we the survivors have not received the support needed to restore our dignity.”
Frustration with these systemic barriers has driven many to search for alternative ways to engage with national authorities. The aim of the community-level dialogue is to support the strengthening of survivors’ leadership and advocacy skills, using the Murad Code as a framework.
Two Days of Dialogue and Collaboration
Drawing on the Code's principles, participants collaboratively developed ideas for two powerful video tools to be produced after the dialogue: one for the attention of the national authorities and another by survivors for survivors. These activities showcased the strength and determination of survivors to break the cycle of silence and marginalisation. Through their voices, they are creating pathways for justice, acknowledgment, and healing, not just for themselves but for others in Côte d’Ivoire who share their experiences. “I’ve learned a lot about my rights [through the Murad Code]” said a participant ”I can’t wait to share my new knowledge with fellow survivors.”
As these survivors serve as activists and leaders, they are not only challenging the status quo but also inspiring hope and resilience within their communities. The Murad Code project team is inspired to work with them.