SURVIVOR-CENTERED FILMMAKING PRACTICES
We advocate against exploitative filmmaking and share best practices in working respectfully with survivors of trauma.
Campaign Updates
Survivor-Centered Peer Support Group
Our Centering Survivor Stories series brought together filmmakers with a shared passion for centering the perspectives of sexual violence and abuse survivors in documentary films. Several filmmakers who attended expressed a desire to connect with others who are facing the same challenges with their projects. They formed a survivor-centered peer support group to continue discussions of the complicated questions involved in this work.
The group focuses conversations on issues specific to working with survivors and in a way that respects the agency and rights of the survivors. The meeting format includes a check-in, where everyone can talk about what they are working on and what issues have come up, followed by a deep dive on a specific topic that they selected.
If you are interested in joining the group, please email Jennifer Huang at [email protected].
Additional Resources
Murad Code
A global code of conduct for gathering and using information about systemic and conflict-related sexual violence. The Murad Code project also contains practical guidance to the code, survivors’ charter or survivors’ perspectives documents, and “survivor’s guide,” a toolkit for survivors which will assist them to better understand and demand respect and protection for their rights during documentation processes.
Silence and Omissions: A Media Guide for Covering Gender-Based Violence
A comprehensive guide for journalists and filmmakers for covering gender-based violence created by the Journalism Initiative on Gender-Based Violence at the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University.
Dart Centre Guidelines for Reporting on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Guidelines created by the Dart Centre Europe for how to report on sexual violence specifically in conflict zones.
Dealing with Trauma and Survivors of Trauma
Editorial guidance and policy from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that is survivor centered, also includes their guidance notes on reporting domestic violence and terrorism.