Responsible Use of Information

Elements expected for all roles

Examples of statements or behaviours which indicate the need for further development

• That use of information by anyone within whom the information is shared brings responsibility and risks (regardless of how far down the chain they are from the original gathering of information from a survivor or if they find it through open-source methods)

• Privacy, legal and security implications from collection, receipt and use of indirectly sourced information about survivors [MC 8.3]

• The importance of accurate representation of SCRSV information for survivor well-being and for countering stigma, including the impact of sensationalising SCRSV or fixating on graphic, sexual or violence details or on victimhood/vulnerability without any broader human dimension or recognition of the courage and resilience of survivors

• Different forms of bias and their effects on accurate and representative information collection, interpretation and use, including listener-reader bias, question bias, comfort level bias, potential exclusion/lack of access/silencing/invisibility of some survivors due to language, location, security concerns, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/ expression and/or sex characteristics (SOGIESC), educational or literacy level, social status, political affiliation, religion, health status, mobility, communication resources, poverty and other intersectional factors

• Why it is important to go beyond what has already been written in a context about SCRSV (given risk of bias, blinds pots, stigma and misassumptions)

• Using information about or from survivors shared with you in any way you want without consideration of consent, confidentiality, risk of harm, etc

• Accepting or sourcing information or analyses about SCRSV without considering bias or accuracy, including AI-generated reports/summaries and other open-source information

• Using language or portraying SCRSV or survivors in stigmatising ways or in ways which perpetuate stigma, myths, stereotypes and misassumptions

• writing or publishing sensationalised pieces which focus on the graphic and sexual details of the violence [MC 10.8]

• Believing that if you can find it online, you can/should use it, and it cannot do any further harm

• Mining whatever information can be found online without recognising risks of holding and handling information

Expected for all roles

Specific to programming (designing and delivering SCRSV programming)

Specific to survivor interaction roles (direct interaction with survivor to gather information)

Examples of behaviour which indicate a need for further development

• Risk assess for use and representation of SCRSV information which includes accuracy and recognition of information bias, perpetuation of stigma, myths, stereotypes and misassumptions, as well as recognition of risks to privacy/confidentiality, consent, safety and other survivor rights

• Careful vetting and consideration of informed consent records associated with survivor information [MC8.4]

• Use language and portray sexual violence or its survivor accurately and without perpetuating stigma or misunderstandings

• Ensure accuracy, without bias, assumption or misrepresentation in information sharing or using [MC 3.4]

• Assess information sharing risks for intended partners and uses, design, implement and monitor mitigation measures in project activities and outputs  

• Design, resource, implement and monitor measures and procedures to ensure sharing and use conformed to express specific informed consent [MC 4.9]

• (For open-source work) design, resource, plan and monitor responsible systems and measures for open-source investigation or research which upholds survivor rights and dignity

• Deploy mitigating measure to counter bias in information gathering and use including own bias in searches as well as other factors which create bias, distortion and lack of representativity

• Take steps to ensure any recording, presentation, publication, depiction or use of SCRSV information does not misrepresent, misinform, distort perceptions or perpetuate stigma, biases and misconceptions about SCRSV, its survivors and perpetrators

• (For open-source investigations/research), careful preparation and consideration of survivors rights and dignity, and implementation of investigation plan which upholds such rights and dignity [MC8.4]

• Using information from or about a survivor for a different purpose that agreed by the survivor

• Failing to check whether there is express specific consent from a survivor for intended use, whether directly or indirectly sourced

• Representing SCRSV in way that perpetuates stigma, myths and misassumptions

• Undertaking open-source research without any prior planning or without protocols and measures in place to protect survivors and team members

Associated Values

Examples of attitudes or approaches which indicate need for further development

Core Values: Humanity, Dignity and Empathy, Commitment and Responsibility, Diversity and Inclusion

Approaches: commitment to self-reflection, commitment to look deeper for blind spots and exclusion

• Treats information as a commodity, shapes it into whatever message serves them or their organisation

• If receiving information second or third hand, including through open-source research, does not consider survivor wishes or agreements/assurances at the gathering stage/point of collection

• Sharing confidential information without considering informed consent