The Ethics and Justice Thematic Working Group (TWG) considers the ethical dimensions of health policy and systems research (HPSR) and promotes a recognition that ethics issues and concerns are ‘everybody’s business’.
The TWG are adopting several new inter-related emphases in upcoming years, linked to a recognition of the importance of addressing social justice and decolonisation concerns. The TWG believe it is essential that the field of HPSR determines how to navigate these very complex issues in formal and ‘everyday’ ways across all phases of research.
Objectives
- Build HSG member and HPSR stakeholders’ awareness and interest in what an ethics lens adds to thinking and acting ‘justly and equitably’ in HPSR
- Foster cross-regional dialogue amongst a diversity of stakeholders on HPSR ethics by listening to and sharing diverse perspectives on:
- the range of ethical dilemmas faced when funding, planning, conducting, disseminating, and reviewing the various forms of HPSR
- how ethical practice can and should be strengthened
- how indigenous research ethics can inform HPSR ethics
- Contribute scholarly work and practical guidance targeting different HPSR stakeholders and aimed at strengthening ethical practice in HPSR, with a focus on justice and applying indigenous research ethics concepts and principles
- Identify from an ethics perspective the specific opportunities and challenges for HSG (as a key HPSR actor) to promote justice across the field and more widely.
The Ethics and Justice TWG will seek to amplify the voices of many actors and initiatives working on our topics of interest and reflecting with them on the relevance of their ideas and work for HPSR ethics guidance and practice. The TWG intends to have a wide reach across HSG members, and to serve as a strong link for HSG to the broader ethics community. The latter is important: ethics scholars and activists are a critical resource for developing HPSR ethics literature and guidance, and HPSR has valuable contributions for broader ethics thinking and practice.
Activities
TWG activities include hosting webinars, workshops, meetings at bioethics and global health conferences, conference panels, and Google Group discussions.