Ethical considerations in evaluating interventions against gender-based violence
Collecting data on sensitive topics such as GBV often raises a number of ethical questions and safety concerns. This is especially the case when the survivor of violence is interviewed. The following concerns should always be taken into account when interviewing survivors: ensuring safety of respondents since they often live with their abuser; protecting confidentiality since breaching it could provoke an attack; making sure the interview process is non-discriminatory and does not cause distress.
Nine Ethical Principles: Reporting Ethically on Gender-Based Violence in the Syria Crisis
Gender-based violence is a complicated and sensitive subject. Reporting on gender-based violence means discussing issues that are often considered taboo, and talking publicly about intimate and distressing matters. This can be particularly challenging in countries where tradition and religion play an important role in everyday life.
WHO Ethical and safety recommendations for researching, documenting and monitoring sexual violence in emergencies
Ethics can be defined as a system or code of moral values that provides rules and standards of conduct. The three primary ethical principles that should guide all inquiries involving human beings (including methods used to collect information) are as follows:1) Respect for persons, which relates to respecting the autonomy and self-determination of participants, and protecting those who lack autonomy, including by providing security from harm or abuse.
http://www.who.int/gender/documents/OMS_Ethics&Safety10Aug07.pdf