Open-source researchers 🚨 Whether you’re actively searching for evidence related to systematic and conflict-related sexual violence or not, you may encounter it.

The Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code helps you make informed, ethical decisions when handling SCRSV-related material.

Seeking feedback between now and June 30! Final version to come later this year along with translations, feedback form and pilot guide are here: www.muradcode.com/open-source-...

Open-source researchers: whether you’re actively searching for evidence re: conflict-related sexual violence or not, you may find it. We've just launched the pilot Open-Source Practitioner’s Guide to the Murad Code w/ IICI to help www.muradcode.com/open-source-... @berkeleylaw.bsky.social

Guidance Gap in Investigations of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Guidance on how to conduct digital investigations into sexual violence remains underdeveloped, leaving a dangerous gap.

"Digital investigations are more ethical and effective when they are survivor-centered and trauma-informed," write @alexakoenig.bsky.social & @anthonyghaly.bsky.social for @justsecurity.org:
www.justsecurity.org/108985/guida...
www.justsecurity.org/108985/guida...

What we have as a result of the phone conversation. To call a spade a spade, we must say that Putin refused a temporary armistice. He supposedly promised not to strike energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. 1/2

Well this is depressing: "The number of #autocracies (91) has just surpassed #democracies (88) on this list for the first time in two decades, and nearly three-quarters of humans now live in an autocracy — where one person has unconstrained power — the highest rate in five decades." #humanRights

Trump fails to get Putin to stop the shooting Russia insists on terms to end the war that spell the end of democratic Ukraine, and has followed up the Trump call with an assault on Kyiv.

Trump fails to get Putin to stop the shooting as Russia insists on terms to end the war that would spell the end of democratic Ukraine, and has followed up the Trump call with a bombing assault on Kyiv.

www.politico.eu/article/dona...

An hour after Trump’s call with Putin, explosions rock Kyiv.

Kyiv Post correspondents report blasts — authorities confirm air defense is active.

When You’re MAGA, They Let You Do It Why Trumpworld is just fine with Andrew Tate’s violent misogyny.

“Indulging the Tate brothers to own the libs is an act of pure nihilism,” Helen Lewis writes. “Denouncing them should be the easiest test of moral seriousness imaginable, and yet it’s a test that many online influencers are failing in real time.”

US aid freeze: how many dead? Since the end of January, following the 90-day suspension of US global aid, many organisations have been directly or indirectly affected. An overview of the situation in the field of transitional just...

How the US funding freeze affects justice too.

Stop-Work Order on US Foreign Aid Puts China First and America Last President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio's 90-day halt endangers health, economic and other programs, leaving gaps for China to fill.

Absolute disaster on all front.

Syrian forces use widespread sexual violence to humiliate and silence male prisoners, new report says A Syrian rights group said the government systematically uses various forms of sexual abuse to torture men into confessions and submission.

Forever grateful that you wrote this very important piece in 2019 - thank you! With this follow up www.thelancet.com/journals/ecl... which is critical to understand needs post-regime.

Long-term physical and psychological symptoms in Syrian men subjected to detention, conflict-related sexual violence and torture: cohort study of self-reported symptom evolution Men reported persistent symptoms and conditions years after CRSV, torture and detention. The unique constellation of findings and their evolution in male CRSV survivors, particularly increasing rates of anger, distrust, and self-isolation, must urgently inform design and delivery of support services and health care.

Adding this piece of work by Syrian doctors - important to recognise the long term impact and needs of the thousands of detainees emerging from regime prisons. www.thelancet.com/journals/ecl...

Assad’s Prison State Much of the media is reporting the collapse of the Assad regime as ‘scary jihadis’ rather than as the liberation – the huge advance in human freedom – it actually is. I&#821…

The media isn't reporting the collapse of the Assad regime as the huge advance in human freedom it is. I’ve written this text for the IPM giving background on Assad’s detention and torture state. Please read, and share. qunfuz.com/2024/12/07/a...

Long-term physical and psychological symptoms in Syrian men subjected to detention, conflict-related sexual violence and torture: cohort study of self-reported symptom evolution Men reported persistent symptoms and conditions years after CRSV, torture and detention. The unique constellation of findings and their evolution in male CRSV survivors, particularly increasing rates of anger, distrust, and self-isolation, must urgently inform design and delivery of support services and health care.

Lancet Eclinical Medicine Study on long term symptoms in Syrian male detainees from January 2024

I sat in court at the Gisèle Pelicot rape trial. This is what I saw Gisèle Pelicot became a symbol of courage when she waived her anonymity to attend the trial of her husband and 50 other men accused of raping her — and ignited fierce debate about the law surrounding ...

“There is no collective noun for rapists but spend a week at the Pelicot trial and you wonder why. … In court they sit on the left, clustered around a glass box containing more men, those in custody for the gravest crimes. Since there are 50 in total, the alleged rapists have been tried in batches.”

It’s an extremely timely reminder of the complex trauma and longterm needs of the thousands of detainees finally free from regime detention centres in Aleppo and Hama.

The IIIM published a detailed report analysing the widespread and systematic commission of torture, ill treatment and related violations across more than 100 Syrian Government detention facilities. The report draws on > 300 witness interviews, forensic evidence and the regime’s own documentation.

Released today