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The ethical underpinnings of research will be enhanced by raising the visibility of human rights principles as part of the practice of science, in the broadest sense, including but not limited to scientific research. Explicit linking of international human rights principles to science ethics enhances recognition that science and technology have both direct and indirect implications for humans and the world in which we live. Doing so also will serve to promote a common respect for those involved in, or affected by scientific research, regardless of institutional context. If ethics codes guide the work of scientists and help them identify with a profession, more firmly linking these to human rights principles will serve to bridge scientists across professions and geographical boundaries. These efforts will help to emphasize that science is not an exception in the application of human rights principles.
Proposed activities to be pursued through this area of activity include to:
- Assemble and review ethics codes of scientific societies (life, physical, behavioral, and social), highlight those that are exemplars in integrating human rights principles with scientific ethics and practice, and identify those principles that are applicable across the sciences;
- Consider how to integrate a human rights framework more fully into the ethics codes of research societies and scientific associations;
- Examine ethical frameworks for conducting human research to identify areas in which human rights principles could improve process or practice (identify what a human rights approach adds to the current framework); and
- Encourage IRB processes that are more clearly grounded in a human rights framework.
- Identifying the human rights principles reflected in codes of ethics for professional societies and compiling exemplars in each of four areas: life, physical, behavioral, and social sciences;
- As time permits, identify human rights principles applicable across the sciences that could form the basis for a “10 things to think about when reviewing your ethics code.”
For further information about the working group’s objectives and activities, click here.
If you wish to find out more about this working group and how your association can participate, please contact the working group co-chairs, Rob Albro (American Anthropological Association) or Paula Skedsvold (Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences).
(page updated
12/12/2008)
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