Professional Code of Conduct

Women Who Won the War is committed to providing professional support, high-quality training, and practical opportunities for women journalists across the Middle East and North Africa, with particular attention to conflict-affected settings. Accordingly, this Code of Conduct aims to promote professional ethics and establish a culture of mutual respect and professional responsibility both within and outside the organization, ensuring a safe and professional environment that supports freedom of expression and advances justice and equality through journalism.

Notice: This Code is a binding reference for everyone who works with or collaborates with the organization, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, and forms part of the contractual and ethical framework governing professional relationships. It must be read and applied in conjunction with the organization’s other policies, including the Editorial Policy, Anti-Harassment Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, and Complaints Policy. Compliance with this Code forms part of professional performance assessment within the organization.

1. Commitment to Transparency and Credibility

• We believe that credibility is at the core of professional journalism. 
• We are committed to reporting information from reliable sources without distortion, exaggeration, or misleading selectivity. 
• We verify the accuracy of information before publication and provide the full context necessary to understand it. 
• In training programs, we strive to provide evidence-based and accurate content that promotes a deeper understanding of the subject matter. 

2. Editorial Independence

Women Who Won the War is committed to maintaining a complete separation between editorial decision-making and financial, political, or funding-related influences. No donor, partner, or supporter may intervene in editorial content or influence the outcomes of journalistic reporting, investigations, or training programs.

Editorial decisions are made internally according to established professional and ethical standards, ensuring the independence and integrity of journalistic work and serving the public interest.

3. Respect for Freedom of Expression

• We encourage women journalists to think freely and express their views objectively. 
• We promote responsible professional expression and avoid bias or unprofessional influences on journalistic work. 
• We respect diversity of backgrounds and perspectives without imposing uniform ideological frameworks. 

4. Commitment to Fairness and Equity

• We strive to ensure that journalistic coverage is balanced and takes into consideration the perspectives of all relevant parties. 
• We give particular attention to marginalized and underrepresented voices, without bias or generalization. 

5. Source Protection and Privacy

• We are committed to protecting the identities of sources, particularly in high-risk environments. 
• We maintain the confidentiality of information and personal data belonging to participants in investigations and training programs. 

6. Mutual Respect and Equality

• We are committed to the principle of full equality among all staff members. 
• We foster an environment that welcomes differences and values diverse perspectives. 
• We reject all forms of discrimination based on sex, gender, race, social status, or any other characteristic. 

7. Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest

Women Who Won the War and all individuals who work with or collaborate with the organization, whether permanently or temporarily, are required to avoid any practices or relationships that may create a conflict of interest or compromise impartiality and independence in journalistic and training work.

A conflict of interest refers to any situation in which an individual’s personal, financial, family, or political interests have a direct or indirect, actual or perceived influence on the impartiality of their professional decisions or practices while working with the organization.

Examples of conflicts of interest include:

• Reporting on or investigating an institution where a family member works or with which they have a close relationship, without prior disclosure. 
• Receiving gifts or personal financial support from entities that the journalist is expected to cover or investigate. 
• Promoting, through personal or professional platforms, entities with which the journalist is engaged through their journalistic work. 
• Undertaking consultancy or employment roles with organizations that are the subject of reporting. 
• Engaging in political or partisan activities that may affect the impartiality of journalistic coverage. 

Professional Responsibility

Every journalist, employee, or collaborator working with the organization is responsible for full transparency and for disclosing any potential conflict of interest when:

• Proposing topics for journalistic coverage or investigative reporting. 
• Participating in training workshops or joint projects. 
• Representing the organization at events or professional networks. 

Required Procedures

• Disclose any potential conflict of interest in writing to the relevant management. 
• Refrain from participating in any activity or project where personal interests may influence professional judgment. 
• Seek internal guidance from the Executive Director when there is uncertainty about whether a conflict of interest exists. 

The organization reserves the right to reassign responsibilities or withdraw assignments where a conflict of interest is confirmed to compromise the integrity of the work.

Any violation of this provision constitutes serious professional misconduct and may result in disciplinary action, including:

• Formal warning 
• Temporary suspension from work or collaboration 
• Immediate termination of the contractual relationship 

8. Commitment to Professional Excellence

• We are committed to continuous professional development and to providing high-quality, up-to-date training. 
• We encourage women journalists to work according to the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and balance. 

9. Financial Transparency

• We manage project and training finances with full transparency. 
• We disclose all sources of funding to the public. 

10. Response to Errors

• In the event of a professional error, we are committed to prompt and public correction in accordance with international journalistic standards and Women Who Won the War’s Corrections and Complaints Policies. 
• We prioritize correcting the impact of an error rather than merely issuing a formal apology. 

11. Constructive Engagement and Collaboration

• We promote a culture of collaboration among journalists, staff, and colleagues and seek to build professional relationships based on trust. 
• We provide spaces for open and safe dialogue and exchange of views. 

12. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

The organization may use certain artificial intelligence tools to support editorial, research, or technical processes, including translation, transcription, preliminary analysis of information, or assistance with content organization, provided that such use does not conflict with professional and ethical standards of journalism.

The organization is committed to:

• Not publishing any content produced or modified using AI without thorough human review and verification. 
• Not using AI tools to produce or publish misleading information, fabricated images or recordings, or content that violates rights or human dignity. 
• Respecting privacy and maintaining data confidentiality when using any technological or digital tools. 
• Maintaining professional transparency regarding the use of AI tools in journalistic or training work where disclosure is necessary. 
• Ensuring that final editorial responsibility remains with the editorial team and the organization, not with the technological tools used. 

The organization pays particular attention to risks associated with algorithmic bias, misinformation, and the unethical use of emerging technologies, especially in contexts involving conflict, women’s rights, and vulnerable groups.

Implementation of the Code

• Compliance with this Code is mandatory for all staff members and collaborators working with the organization. 
• This Code applies to professional conduct in public and digital spaces when an individual is representing the organization. 
• Any suspected violation may be reported through the organization’s official reporting channels and will be handled in accordance with the organization’s Complaints, Anti-Harassment, and Conflict of Interest Policies. 
• A fair and professional investigation will be conducted, with confidentiality maintained and protection provided to complainants and whistleblowers against retaliation. Appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. 

Review and Updates

This Code is reviewed annually, or whenever necessary, to ensure that it remains aligned with professional developments and evolving human rights contexts.