Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: In response to a growing need for practical guidance on collecting information from and about young people, this publication aims to provide practical guidance to help programme managers and researchers understand and uphold ethical standards when planning and implementing information gathering activities among children and adolescents.
The initial need for such recommendations was identified in the context of activities being conducted among children and adolescents affected by HIV and AIDS. However, the guidelines also apply to gathering information from young people to address other health and social welfare conditions and difficult circumstances, such as those who have experienced abuse, trafficking, or displacement. This document first presents some key issues that must be considered from the earliest stages of planning and throughout the information-gathering activity. Using a question and answer format, the document then introduces practical guidance for observing high ethical standards at specific stages of an information-gathering activity involving children and adolescents. The document concludes by summarising the main recommendations and suggesting roles for various staff members involved in activities gathering information from children and adolescents.