Sexworkers, MSM and transgender will review research from ethical perspective

[Guest guest]

Sexworkers, MSM and transgender will review research from ethical perspective

Chennai: October 10, 2010.

The 365X6 is a project of Praxis, CEFAR and REACH to facilitate the community

without border. It has recently constituted a nine member Community Based Ethics

Review Committee (CBERC) which included six members from the community of sex

workers, MSM, transgender and IDU.

The mandate of the committee is to review the research proposals that have

relevance to the targeted community from the perspective of research ethics.

The 365X6 organised a capacity building workshop for the committee members to

strengthen their capacity to analyse the ethical implications of research and

public health interventions.

The objective of the workshop was to introduce the participants to the concept

of bio-ethics in general, the idea of ethical compliance in research and the

historical evolution of bioethics, to familiarise with the role and scope of

bio-ethics in HIV social and clinical research, to introduce the participants to

the concept of community based ethics review committees and the review

procedures and to assist the CERC to review a research protocol.

The participants were introduced to the concept, scope and principles of ethics

in research, elements of informed consent, terms and reference of an ethics

review committee.

During the group discussion, the participants identified a range of violations

of ethical principles of research in several research projects. The violations

often takes place in the area of informed consent and confidentially. The CERC

members suggested the need for wider promotion of the awareness about the

ethical principles of public health interventions and research.

Dr. Joe and Dr. K.Moulasha facilitated the sessions.

The CERC has expertise from diverse field related to research, with majority of

them being from the targeted community. The committee at present has members

with language competency in Tamil. This committee will be expanded by bringing

in more members from other regions. As of now, the members of the committee are

:

1. Nalini Jameela- FSW, Author

2. Ms.Priya Babu –TG, Author & Researcher

3. Ms.K.Kalaivani – FSW, Author & Researcher

4. Ms.Lakhsmi – FSW, Independent Researcher

5. Mr.Jiten – Ex IDU, State Coordinator, Nagaland, 365X6 Consortium

6. Mr.Baskaran – MSM, Independent Researcher

7. Dr. peh – Academician & Researcher

8. R.Venkatesan – Independent Consultant

9. Dr.K.Moulasha – Member Secretary

The 365X6 project secretariat will provide secretarial support to this

committee.

The committee can be contacted through Neathravathi Gunalan, Praxis Institute

for Participatory Practices, D-5, 808, Poonamalee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai

-600010

Contact:044-26612876/26612883 Email: neathravathi@...

M.J.ph,

Project Director,

PRAXIS-CFAR-REACH Consortium Initiative,

Plot No.11, Sanjeev Housing Society,

Near Check Post, East Maradpally, Secundrabad – 500 026

e-mail: <josephm@...>,

Contact: 040-27730584/ 27730585