Fair Research Partnerships
March 2, 2017, was a historical day for the San communities of South Africa. They launched their own San Code of Research Ethics at the company gardens in Cape Town.
For decades the San have been of great academic interest, however, research relationships have often been inequitable or even exploitative. It was with the support of the TRUST project that the San were able to come up with their own code of ethics. Never before had a code been written by an indigenous group in Africa. Please scroll down for more information.
The South African San Council is the main custodian of the code. The goal is to promote equitable and fair research relationships. If you wish to conduct research with the San communities, please contact the San Council before the time.
Translations of the San Code
25 Years of Research Experience
"In recent years San leaders have, with increasing confidence, arrived at the conclusion that most academic research on their communities was neither requested, nor useful, nor protected in any meaningful way. In many cases, dissatisfaction, if not actual harm was the result." (Page 4, The San Code of Research Ethics - Its Origins and History)
This booklet describes 25 years of efforts to achieve fair and equitable research partnerships.
Documentaries on the San Code
San Code Media Coverage
Nature - South Africa's San people issue code to scientists
GroundUp - San Council launches code of ethics for researchers
Science - San people of Africa draft code of ethics for researchers
The Conversation - The ethics of research: how to end the exploitation of vulnerable communities
news24 - San Council launches code of ethics for researchers
Mail & Guardian - San Council launches code of ethics for researchers
The Christian Science Monitor - Can native research codes avoid culture clash
The Scientist - San people write ethical code for researchers
Scientific American - South Africa's San people issue ethics code to scientists
National Geographic - San people draft code of ethics for researchers
Smithsonian - San people of South Africa issue code of ethics for researchers
Africa Times - San people become first African group with their own research ethics code
NITV - The ethics of research: how to end the exploitation of vulnerable communities
The San Code in Rap
Sponsored by Foundation Global Value Alliance (FGVA) - click here for more information
The Stream Al Jazeera English
The Stream - Is there an ethical way to research indigenous people?
On August 16, 2018, The Stream Al Jazeera English broadcasted an episode dedicated to indigenous people, research practices and The San Code of Research Ethics. Click on the picture to watch.
For more information on research ethics visit: www.globalcodeofconduct.org.