ACTIONS
- Protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage
- Learning and educational opportunities
- Cultural participation/social inclusion
- Sustainable tourism
- Support research
- Employment (recruiting, training, safety)
- Energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions
- Waste management and reduction
- Transport (forms of, energy use)
- Commercial activities including copyright and IP
- Governance and management
- Security, disaster preparedness, risk reduction
- External partnerships and collaborations
SDGs
- Publication/report
- Toolkit/framework/roadmap
AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research
Intended Audience
“The AIATSIS Code of Ethics is intended for use by:
• any person conducting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research
• any member of an ethical review body or other body reviewing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research, including human research ethics committees (HRECs), grant assessment panels and data governance committees
• sponsors or commissioners of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research, which includes any person or public or private organisation that is providing financial or other support to the project
• those involved in research governance and policy relating to research or management of collections, including the development of standards
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations engaged in or with research” (p.6)
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
“The purpose of the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (the AIATSIS Code or this Code) is to promote ethical and responsible practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research in Australia, to increase the contribution of Indigenous knowledge to Australian research, to ensure research has a positive impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to continuously improve the quality and standards of research in this area.
The principles in this Code are informed by the recognition of and respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.4 As such, we recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right to be fully engaged in any processes, projects and activities that may impact them. The AIATSIS Code recognises that Indigenous peoples have the right to control and maintain their culture and heritage, and that means benefiting from research undertaken by, with and about them.
The establishment of written guidelines for research conduct not only ensures that the expectations and standards of practice are clearly understood and shared, but also assists in building Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ confidence in the research community and its practices.
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Act 1989 (Cth) requires AIATSIS to provide leadership in ethics and protocols for research and activities relating to collections about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.5 AIATSIS is the sole Commonwealth body with these responsibilities and this Code is issued pursuant to that legislated function.” (p.3)
Avaiable in
- English
SDGs LINKAGES
The resource is aimed at ensuring that research is undertaken in appropriate, ethical and culturally appropriate ways with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This supports a number of SDG targets relating to fair sharing of any benefits arising from research using genetic resources (supporting SDGs 1.4 on access to property and inheritance, and SDGs 2.5 and 15.6 on fair use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge). The resource aims to develop learners, which includes researchers, to support a culture of respect for human rights (SDGs 4.4 and 4.7). Any scientific research involving Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders or their property would relate to SDG 9.5. Notably, promoting the full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Islander communities in research, including all of the four stages outlined, would support SDG 10.2 (empower and promote the full social, economic and political inclusion of all) and SDG 10.3 (reducing inequalities of outcomes). Ensuring any cultural heritage involved or created in research is properly cared for, and respecting Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and rights, relates to SDG 11.4. Ensuring the law regarding cultural rights is followed supports SDG 16.3 and effective, accountable and transparent institutions supports SDG 16.6. Ensuring decisions relating to research are fair and inclusive supports SDG 16.7 (on responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making). Ensuring intellectual property rights and any commercial benefits arising from research are fairly attributed and shared supports SDG 16.10; Indigenous access to research materials would relate to SDG 1.4 (access to property and inheritance). Supporting non-discriminatory research policies supports SDGs 16.B and 17.14 (policy coherence for sustainable development. Close partnership working with Indigenous communities supports SDG 17.17, on multistakeholder partnerships for sustainable development. Ensuring research undertaken on Indigenous lands minimizes its environmental impact supports SDG 11.4 (which also relates to other targets in SDGs 6 and 15).
Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Numbers and proportions of people from particular groups using collections in comparison with demographics in broader society.
- Numbers of people accessing collections.
- Number of targeted programmes that aim to enhance access to collections by disadvantaged groups.
- Sustainable tourism that enhances local communities’ access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property (including cultural and natural heritage), as well as to technology and markets.
- Involvement of people from disadvantaged groups in decision-making activities and processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development related to genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals (notably of local or at-risk varieties) and related wild species, for example in herbaria, museums, seed and gene banks, and seed libraries.
- Number of educational programmes related to genetic diversity of domesticated plants, animals and wild relatives.
- Number of educational programmes related to fair and equitable benefits of use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, following international agreements (e.g. Nagoya Protocol).
- Number of educational and awareness programmes for people to ensure that they are aware of their rights and protections in terms of traditional knowledge, and exploitation of genetic resources.
- Number of research activities that help understand traditional knowledge, and genetic diversity of crop plants and animals.
- Ensure that producers of crop plants and animals are fairly compensated.
- Policies and procedures in place to ensure seed banks are soundly managed, in terms of risk management and emergency planning.
- Policies and procedures in place to ensure legal compliance with fair and equitable benefits of use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, following international agreements (e.g. Nagoya Protocol).
- Number of partnerships at national, regional and international levels, as appropriate, to soundly manage seed and plant banks.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
- Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
- Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
- Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
- Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
- Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
- Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number and proportion of collections facilities that effectively support research and researchers.
- Number and proportion of staff who are appropriately skilled to undertake and support collections-based research.
- Expenditure on initiatives to enhance and upgrade collections facilities.
- Numbers of staff engaged in supporting and developing research use based on collections.
- Number of initiatives to encourage innovation drawing on collections.
- Increase in number of research and development workers per 1 million people.
- Increase in public and private research and development spending being used to develop and make use of collections.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development to ensure that collections effectively meet the needs of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
- Number and proportion of educational and participatory programmes that promote participation irrespective of social or other status.
- Numbers and proportions of people making use of collections in relation to the demographic of the local population.
- Numbers and proportions of people involved in focused programmes aimed at promoting social, economic and political inclusion.
- Numbers and proportions of people from different demographic groups involved in decision-making processes relating to collections and collections-based institutions.
- Number and types of partnerships that build relationships with marginalized groups, individuals and communities.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Identification of discriminatory policies and practices, with clear plans to address these, to ensure equal opportunity for all and reduce inequalities of outcome.
- Collections development to uphold and promote legislation and anti-discriminatory perspectives, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
- Education and participatory programmes that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
- Research that supports anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
- Participation in partnerships that promote anti-discriminatory legislation, policies and action, with the aim of reducing inequality within and between countries.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Number and proportion of policies that proactively address equality issues relating to fiscal, wage and social protection considerations.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage.
- Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections for a variety of purposes, protecting and safeguarding both collections and those who use them.
- Plans, policies and procedures in place for the identification, safeguarding and protection of cultural and natural heritage at risk.
- Collecting programmes in place to protect, safeguard and make use of cultural and natural heritage, addressing the needs of communities and stakeholders, and ensuring that collections can be an effective resource for sustainable development.
- Number and diversity of educational, awareness-raising, research programmes, and partnerships that aim to strengthen protection of cultural and natural heritage.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Policies, plans and agreements in place for access and benefit sharing relating to use of collections, in line with the Nagoya Protocol (notably relating to natural history collections, gene banks, tissue banks, seed banks).
- Effective communication and dissemination methods in place to promote access to resources, and access to relevant policies, plans and agreements, in place.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Collections development that relates to the rule of law, equality before the law, and justice for all.
- Number of activities drawing on collections, for example educational, research and partnership activities, that promote the rule of law at national and international levels, and that promote a culture of lawfulness, and the right of all to justice.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
- Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
- Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
- Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
- Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
- Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
- Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportions of positions (by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups) in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions.
- Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group.
- Decision-making addresses societal, environmental and economic challenges related to the community, considering short-term and long-term risks and opportunities.
- Decision-making draws on diverse backgrounds, viewpoints and interests, reflecting a broad base of stakeholders, and working to promote inclusion and provide effective services for all of society.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
- Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
- Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
- Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
- Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, linking to SDGs and targets.
- Incorporation of policy considerations from outside the collections sector into policies of collections-based institutions, to facilitate partnerships and effectiveness.
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Our Collections Matter indicators:
- Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships.
- Number and/or increase in number, and diversity of local, national and regional multi-stakeholder (public, public-private and civil society) partnerships that address the SDGs drawing on collections, or that otherwise involve collections-based organisations and institutions.