Global Code of Conduct for the Investigation of Conflict Related Sexual Violence (Murad Code)

IICI is leading a consultative project to develop a survivor-centric global code of conduct for the documentation and investigation of conflict-or atrocity-related sexual violence (CARSV). It is also known as “the Murad code”, after Nadia Murad.

The project is a collaboration between the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and IICI, in consultation with Nadia’s Initiative. In this phase of the project, IICI is engaging with about 160 actors and stakeholders on the idea, target audience, content and implementation of such a code of conduct. The actors and stakeholders engaged range from national and international investigators, the ICC, the OHCHR and other UN agencies to local and international NGOs, donors and survivors. A draft code will be formally launched for global consultations and further development in the 1st half of 2020. The development of the final code will be informed by wider consultations and will be launched around the end of 2020. The final code will be accompanied by other instruments and aides, including a commentary and a survivors’ charter (a code of conduct from the perspective of survivors).

The overall goals of the code of conduct include to (a) strengthen respect for, and fulfilment of, survivors’ and witnesses’ human rights, including their rights to dignity, privacy, well-being, justice, remedies and development in relation to national and international accountability-relevant documentation processes; (b) generally, to raise 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; and (c) to set in place support systems and provide practical guidance to ensure all actors can commit and adhere to the Code, in their roles, without creating any unnecessary barriers to those willing and able to act in survivors’ best interests.

For more background to the code, see this 1-page summary.