The CDE4Peace project is implemented in full compliance with the relevant European and national legislation and the fundamental ethical principles, including those reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and the European Convention on Human Rights and its Supplementary Protocols. All ethical aspects are handled by WP1 Management. Informed consent is obtained from the interviewees to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of research involving work with human beings. Special Informed Consent Forms and Information Sheets are used throughout the project to ensure informed consent of the interviewees.
The project was ethically cleared in the ethics evaluation phase (Ethics summary report for proposal no.882055, dated 20.01.2020).
As a general rule, the CDE4Peace project does not collect any sensitive personal data as this is not necessary for the research. Wherever personal data is being collected – mostly in connection with interviews – it is duly protected fully in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other relevant EU and national legal acts. The choice of interviewees is done with a view to achieving the project’s objective – to explore the potential of CDE tools for EU conflict prevention and peace-building. The qualitative interviews on CDE tools do not result in any discriminatory practices or unfair treatment. The interviews focus on CDE technology assessment and do not cause any harm to the research participants. Personal or sensitive topics are not relevant for the project and are carefully avoided in the questionnaire for the interviews. The research does not involve any potentially vulnerable categories of individuals.
The project involves the collection of personal data. The data collection, storage, protection, retention and destruction protocols fully comply with national and EU legislation. More specifically, all hard copies of research material are kept in a secured locked facility in the host organization (SYNYO GmbH) premises. Electronic data is made anonymous by use of a reference number at the outset including at the interviewing stage to ensure that the privacy and security of participants is maintained in all records. Data is processed only if it is really adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the research. Upon completion of the project, a single repository of the project data will be retained on a secure server at SYNYO GmbH. Information that is deemed personally sensitive such as informed consent forms will not be made publicly available and will be stored securely on SYNYO managed systems. No data transfers of personal data from Austria to other EU or non-EU countries are foreseen.
Participation in the research as an interviewee is voluntary and anyone has the right to refuse to participate and to withdraw their participation or data at any time – without any consequences.
For any further questions about the ethical aspects and data management procedures, please contact the CDE4Peace project coordinator at office@cde4peace.eu