Code of Conduct

When becoming a member of or entering collaborations with the German Society for Tropical Paediatrics and International Child Health (GTP) I do so in the role of a global child health professional. My work will aim towards the goal of positively impacting global child health by supporting the GTP vision and mission. I will embrace and ensure the concepts and values within this Code of Conduct to guide my assessment, work, and interaction strategies.

The GTP board enforces the Code of Conduct. Potential violations of the Code of Conduct can be reported confidentially and anonymously to codeofconduct@globalchildhealth.de. Two independent ombudspeople are nominated every three years to monitor incoming messages, react to them, and ensure enforcement of the Code of Conduct.

To support continuous improvement, concerns that have been resolved or are not explicitly covered in this Code may still be reported. Doing so sharpens our understanding of underlying issues and aids in preventing future incidents.

GTP Vision

All children worldwide should grow up healthy, regardless of gender, origin and socio-cultural environment.

GTP Mission

We stand up for the right of children to health. We accompany partnerships and projects in clinical and research settings and support training and professional exchange in the field of global child health.

Representation and Accountability As a baseline understanding we

• agree that our interactions shall not be biased by gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, imbalances in power or authority, or socio-cultural, educational, religious, political, economic and  ethnic background.
• promote inclusive, encouraging, and non-judgmental environments in which everyone feels welcome, safe, and accepted.
• value and respect personal rights and dignity.
• will seek to protect the safety and wellbeing of ourselves and others and prevent unnecessary risk to ourselves or others.
• acknowledge that vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents require special safeguarding in all our activities reject any form of physical or behavioral violence as well as discrimination.
• condemn and refrain from any form of corruption, fraud, money laundering, extortion, embezzlement or bribery.

We acknowledge that our work has direct impact on the reputation of the GTP and will therefore

• ensure that the concepts and values in this Code of Conduct will be reflected in all our actions, in all verbal or visual communication and media representations of the GTP, our projects and collaborations.
• refrain from actions damaging the image of the GTP.
• seek approval from the GTP board for official representations.

Communication

In recognition of possibly different values, customs and beliefs communication in all settings, known or unknown, local or abroad, should be respectful, non-discriminating and culturally sensitive.

We urge our members and partners to be mindful of stereotyping narratives and refrain from using discriminating or disrespectful language or imagery in verbal and non-verbal communication.

We aim to reflect on our communication skills and styles, to facilitate respectful, understanding and eye- level conversations with all colleagues and partners: Closed-loop communication will be used where possible to foster mutual understanding. We will share information transparently, ensuring everyone has all information available relevant to their role. No information will be withheld for personal benefit.

We reflect on our role in each setting (e.g., host or guest, facilitator, partner, health professional or patient,…) and the power that our position holds in the respective situation, maintaining an attitude of acknowledgement and appreciation towards our colleagues, partners and patients.

As members of the GTP, we strive for awareness of local manners and seek to understand different hierarchies outside of our usual contexts. This includes considering the distribution of responsibilities within the team and following unfamiliar workflows.

We shall be mindful and transparent about our own competencies and capacities in every setting, not shy away from acknowledging our limitations and weaknesses when necessary.

Learning from & with each other

As GTP, its members and collaborators we are committed to learning from and with each other. This includes collaborations within the GTP and with external partners.

We acknowledge that every person has their area of competence and abilities, but also limitations.

We also acknowledge that the members and partners of the GTP have diverse biographies, varying realities, and that we may hold different values. We can learn from each other and work professionally without reaching agreement on all matters.

When communicating with each other, we want to learn about appropriate wording and demeanor. We emphasize that we communicate with colleagues at eye level irrespective of their gender identity, sexual orientation and socio-cultural, educational, religious, economic, political as well as ethnic background.

When working with people from different backgrounds, we consider it self-evident and the responsibility of each person to educate themselves on the history and culture, to show interest in one another to avoid miscommunication.

In the context of international cooperations we educate ourselves on and comply with varying legal and ethical ramifications. Especially in a research-setting, we inform ourselves about requirements regarding patients and personal rights, thereby always applying the highest possible standard. Hence, no personal information or audio-visual material shall be used for research or GTP purposes without written consent.

Before actively engaging with a new setting, we observe and learn about protocols or workflows and appreciate that routines may differ from our previous experience. We acknowledge that circumstances and conditions are heterogeneous. We hold space for different views to enable common solutions and constructive criticism.

Building sustainable & equitable partnerships

We strive to build sustainable and equitable partnerships based on mutual appreciation.

We recognize that international health education, partnerships and projects are often imbued with an imbalance of power – e.g. evident in financial inequalities -, reinvigorating colonial dynamics of influence and control.
Projects and partnerships as well as research and educational activities in the name of the GTP should therefore be characterized by a bi-directional knowledge transfer, acknowledging different knowledge systems (oral, written, …), resources and lived experiences.

We will critically reflect on structural inequalities and predominant ways of thinking and aim at creating a welcoming, non-judgmental environment, in which everyone is invited to contribute to an open discourse on how to overcome these inequalities in the context of the partnership or project. Research and project goals shall be jointly identified in a participatory process, involving all relevant stakeholders and those affected by the research or project, accounting for their perspectives, wishes and concerns.

We require all our members and partners involved in our activities and projects to be mindful of their positionality and the explicit and implicit power structures in the setting at hand. We believe that power, policy and leadership in our projects should be assigned based on competence, not status or other characteristics (e.g. ethnicity, gender, …). This should be reflected in an equal distribution of research leadership, data ownership, and an accurate and fair recognition of contributions.

All activities and projects on behalf of GTP should be based on a critical reflection of the impact on local structures, communities, and the environment. We urge everyone involved in GTP-associated activities to critically reflect on the use of human, natural and planetary resources, united in the pursuit of a One Health approach. At the same time, in all our projects, we acknowledge the influence of social determinants of health and aim towards reduction of existing imbalances and inequities.

Child protection and advancing children’s and adolescent’s rights

As members and partners of the GTP, we are committed to promoting a healthy and safe upbringing for children and adolescents worldwide. We therefore declare the following principles to guide us in all our positions, decisions and actions:

• not to act in any way that puts children or adolescents at risk of harm.
• to actively work to safeguard children and adolescents and to help create a safe environment for children and adolescents to protect them from physical, sexualized or emotional violence or neglect.
• to respect the privacy of children and adolescents and act responsibly regarding closeness and distance and refrain from any relationships or actions that may harm children and/or adolescents such as overpowering or intrusive language, unnecessary physical contact or other actions.
• to act carefully and transparently in our role towards children and adolescents, their families and social environment and reflect the potential power imbalance between representatives of organisations and individuals as well as between adults and children/adolescents.
• not to engage in sexual relations with children and adolescents, or abuse or exploit a child or adolescent in any way.
• to encourage children and adolescents to speak up when they feel mistreated or abused
• to offer support to children and adolescents who report abuse or violations of their rights and to assist them in taking adequate steps to improve the child’s situation and safety, thereby respecting and considering the child’s or adolescent’s wishes and concerns

We require our members and partners to be mindful of the potentially different legal ramifications and social consensus in different contexts and to apply the above stated guidelines in a way that ensures the highest ethical standard possible.