The Institute for International Criminal Investigations and the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law are pleased to announce the publication of the Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code.

Recent project activities include developing survivor-focused flashcards on interview rights (launching early 2026), supporting a survivor-led advocacy campaign that has reached millions, and gathering case studies on how organisations are integrating the Code into their practices.

The Murad Code project participated in two international conferences in 2024. Discussions challenged the "golden hour" mentality in evidence collection, emphasising that safe and effective work with survivors cannot be rushed. Sessions brought together lawyers, documenters, and activists to explore practical implementation of the Code's principles, with participants sharing how they've integrated ethical standards into litigation strategies and community-based documentation initiatives.

In September, the Murad Code project partnered with Nigerian journalists Ismail Alfa and Ismail Auwal to deliver a four-part training series on responsible reporting of conflict-related sexual violence. The sessions equipped media practitioners with ethical standards and practical tools for survivor-centered storytelling, drawing on real-world examples from Boko Haram and ISIS coverage.

In Côte d'Ivoire, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are using the Murad Code as a powerful tool to reclaim their rights and guide their advocacy. Activist Edwige Brin shares how learning about the Code’s principles has shaped how survivors see themselves as rights-holders, storytellers, and advocates for change.

In the lead up to national elections in Côte d’Ivoire, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are raising their voices in a bold new way. With support from the Murad Code project, they have created a powerful video calling for justice, reparation, and recognition. Grounded in the principles of the Code, the video is both a call to action and a reminder to Ivorian society and its leaders: survivors cannot be left behind.

This quarterly update highlights key progress in survivor-led advocacy and invites feedback on the pilot version of a guide for open-source practitioners. The project team is also gathering case studies on how the Murad Code is being applied worldwide, inviting practitioners to contribute.

En novembre 2024, des survivantes ivoiriennes se sont réunies pour un dialogue de deux jours centré sur le Code Murad. Grâce à la réflexion collective, au soutien des pairs et à l'éducation aux droits, les participants ont approfondi leur compréhension de la manière dont le code peut être utilisé pour exiger la dignité, la responsabilité et un changement durable.

This quarterly update highlights key activities delivered under the project between January and March, including tailored “helpdesk” sessions with over 350 information-gatherers across regions and the commencement of work to develop guidance for information-gatherers and users on the integration of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), in line with the Code, in low-resource contexts.

The Latin America Dialogue on the Murad Code brought together regional experts to explore how the Code’s standards can improve responses to sexual violence within mixed migration flows. The discussion highlighted urgent gaps in protection, documentation, and accountability, and illustrated how applying the Code can help ensure a more ethical, coordinated and survivor-centred approach across humanitarian and justice sectors.

In November 2024, Ivorian survivors came together for a two-day dialogue centred on the Murad Code. Through collective reflection, peer support and rights education, participants deepened their understanding of how the Code can be used to demand dignity, accountability, and lasting change.

This dialogue explored how the Murad Code can help address critical gaps in transitional justice processes across West Africa. Drawing on expert insights, the discussion highlighted how failures to adopt survivor-centred and gender-sensitive approaches have limited justice for survivors of sexual violence.

In 2023, the Murad Code project entered its sixth phase, which will run until 2026. This blog outlines how this phase of the project will focus on building on earlier achievements to advance the implementation of the Code’s minimum standards by a broad range of actors - including documenters, investigators, governments, funders, and survivors themselves - as well as to improve cross-sector collaboration.