Monika Horna-Cieślak, Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, appointed members of the Panel for Ethics in Social Research with Children in Poland. This is the first initiative in the country on such a scale to ensure special protection for young people. Dr. Maciej Jakubowski, Director of the Educational Research Institute, received an appointment to the Panel.
Standing up for the rights and well-being of children, I have decided to set up a Panel for the Ethics of Social Research with Children. This is a pioneering initiative that addresses this issue in an interdisciplinary manner. The Panel’s task will be to develop ethical standards for conducting research with the participation of children, including the preparation of information materials and model forms of consent for participation in research. It will also promote the solutions developed in the research community and institutions involved in the implementation of such activities. The Panel includes experts from, among others: the Educational Research Institute, the Ministry of National Education, the scientific community and the Research Team at the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights. The new Panel will be headed by Prof. Małgorzata Michel from the Faculty of Pedagogy at the Jagiellonian University.
She stressed that, as a researcher, she understands very well the importance of research with children and the challenges it entails. “This is why I consider the introduction of standards and the establishment of the Panel as priorities for my term of office,” said Monika Horna-Cieślak. “The perspective of children in research allows us to understand their needs, experiences and views. Young people can provide unique and valuable information that is often overlooked in research which focuses solely on adults. Their voice can contribute to better shaping policies, programmes and activities aiming to improve the quality of life,” she added.
Members of the Panel for Ethics in Social Research with Children in Poland:
- Małgorzata Michel, Doctor of Social Sciences, Professor at the Jagiellonian University in the Institute of Pedagogy, Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, Chairperson of the Panel,
- Piotr Bartoszewicz, Young Expert at the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights,
- Paulina Bunio-Mroczek, Doctor of Sociology, Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Łódź,
- Maciej Jakubowski, Doctor of Social Sciences, Professor at the University of Warsaw, Director of the Educational Research Institute,
- Sylwia Jaskulska, Doctor of Social Sciences, Professor at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, School Pedagogy Unit at the Faculty of Educational Studies,
- Grażyna Katra, Doctor of Social Sciences, Chairperson of the Research Committee at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw,
- Błażej Kmieciak, Doctor of Social Sciences, Professor at the Academy of Special Education in the Institute of Special Pedagogy, Department of the Education and Rehabilitation of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities,
- Mateusz Kupiec, Assistant at the Department of Administrative Law, Institute of Legal Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences,
- Ewa Maciejewska-Mroczek, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of the Anthropology of Medicine and Corporeality, Institute of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, University of Warsaw, member of the Interdisciplinary Team for Research on Childhood,
- Filip Małek, Young Expert at the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights,
- Ewa Maria Marciniak, Doctor of Social Sciences in the field of Political Science, Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, Director of the Public Opinion Research Centre,
- Konrad Piotrowski, Doctor of Social Sciences, Professor at SWPS University, Director of the Doctoral Programme at SWPS University, Deputy Director of the Institute of Psychology,
- Agnieszka Sochoń-Latuszek, Social and Behavioural Change Specialist at the UNICEF Office,
- Adrianna Surmiak, PhD, Member of the Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Social Reintegration, University of Warsaw,
- Szymon Wójcik, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, coordinator of the research department of the Dajemy Dzieciom Siłę Foundation, assistant professor at the Institute of Applied Social Sciences, University of Warsaw,
- Mirosław Wróblewski, President of the Office for Personal Data Protection, Counsel at Law,
- Izabela Ziętka, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of National Education,
- Katarzyna Makaruk, Director of the Research Team at the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, deputy chairperson of the Panel,
- Katarzyna Drabarek, Senior Specialist in the Research Team at the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights, Secretary of the Panel.
Source: website of the Ombudsperson for Children’s Rights.