Guiding Principles For This Resource Hub
The Do No Harm principle
This is a fundamental ethical guideline that emphasizes avoiding causing additional harm or trauma while trying to help others. In the context of humanitarian work and social services, it includes:
1. Intervention Assessment
- Carefully evaluating how actions might affect individuals and communities
- Considering unintended consequences before implementing programs
- Assessing potential risks and benefits of any intervention
2. Protection Priorities
- Ensuring actions don't put beneficiaries at additional risk
- Protecting confidentiality and privacy
- Preventing re-traumatization during service delivery
3. Cultural Sensitivity
- Respecting local customs and traditions
- Understanding community dynamics
- Avoiding actions that might disrupt social structures
4. Power Dynamics
- Recognizing power imbalances between service providers and recipients
- Avoiding creating dependency
- Empowering individuals to make their own choices
5. Resource Management
- Ensuring fair and equitable distribution of resources
- Preventing conflict over assistance
- Avoiding market disruption in local communities
6. Safety Considerations
- Prioritizing physical and emotional safety
- Creating secure environments for service delivery
- Implementing appropriate security measures
The principle requires constant reflection and adjustment of approaches to ensure that helping efforts don’t inadvertently cause harm to those being served.