As seasoned Anthropologists & Museum Ethnographers, we specialize in peoples, countries and places. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but for informed opinions, our Anthropologists and Museum Ethnographers spend most of their time overseas or in their museums and can provide the following:

Policy, Politics & Politicians

As a UK registered Charity (No 115 2771) we do not endorse, advocate or promote any one political view or party. We are Independent Kindred Spirits. We believe personal is political and we encourage vigorous debate and discussion and involvement in politics formally and informally. I am sure we are all familiar with journalist, author and intellectual, George Orwell. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but his was an informed opinion – he fought against Franco’s Fascists in the Spanish Civil War. His statue stands in the BBC’s New Broadcasting House accompanied by one of his many famous quotes ‘If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear’.

It is said war is nothing more than continuation of politics by other means. If you have a question regarding a politicized issue or people, we can forward your details to a member who might be able to respond with an informed opinion, facts and information. We do not take further responsibility for the communication. We abide by Data Protection and Privacy laws, specifically the 2018 Data Protection Act.

Below are links to some anthropological associations that those seeking guidance might find useful. These are also found on the website of the Royal Anthropology Institute.

• American Anthropological Association:
  AAA Code of Ethics (1998)
• Brazilian Association of Anthropology:
  The Anthropologist's Code of Ethics

Archaeology:

• World Archaeological Congress:
  WAC Code of Ethics
• Society for American Archaeology:
  SAA Principles of Archaeological Ethics
• Institute of Field Archaeologists:
  IFA Codes, Guidelines & Standards

Biological Anthropology:

Much biological anthropology research falls within the framework of biomedical research, on which see:

• World Medical Association:
  Declaration of Helsinki
• More general ethical guidance on research involving human subjects is available on the MRC website at:
  MRC Ethics & Guidance
• The American Association of Physical Anthropology has a web site named the ‘AAPA Position Statements’ which covers Ethics Codes, as well as their position on related subjects such as race, and teaching ‘creationsim’ in schools:
  AAPA Code of Ethics

Ethnobiology:

The Code of Ethics of the International Society of Ethnobiology has its origins in the Declaration of Belém, agreed upon in 1988 at the founding of the International Society of Ethnobiology (in Belém, Brazil). The Code of Ethics was initiated in 1996 and completed in 2006. The final version, adopted by the ISE membership at the 11th International Congress of Ethnobiology in November 2006, supercedes all previous draft versions:

• Code of Ethics of the International Society of Ethnobiology

Forensic Anthropology:

There are two main bodies that provide either guidelines or statements on ethical practices relating to human remains:

• The British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology provides guidelines for ethical practice in relation to handling, storage, and analysis of human remains from archaeological sites, as well as an initial draft of a code of ethics:
  BABAO Ethics & Standards
• On the reburial and repatriation of human remains in particular see:
  BABAO Reburial & Repatriation

Museum Ethnography:

• Museum Ethnographers Group:
  Guidance Notes on Ethical Approaches in Museum Ethnography
• Museums Association:
  Code of Ethics for Museums

Social and Cultural Anthropology:

• Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and the Commonwealth:
  ASA Ethics
• Most research conducted by social and cultural anthropologists based in the United Kingdom work within the Research Ethics Framework (REF) authorised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC):
  ESRC Research Ethics Framework

Editing & Educated Comment

We are often asked to comment on official reports, provide information for journalists, as well as edit and assess dissertations and thesis. Please use the contact form in the usual way.

We will try to put you in touch with someone who might be able or willing to help, but there are no obligations and this is strictly with the individual’s consent and permission and is not an arrangement with the organisation. This is not a service or an agency and any financial arrangement is between individuals only.

Contact Us

Expert Witness & Opinion

As seasoned Anthropologists & Museum Ethnographers, we can provide Expert Country Reports as Expert Witness and Opinion. Please use the Contact Form to provide the information below. We will then forward your details if and where appropriate. If we do not know of an Expert in the area or country you require, we will inform you as soon as possible. Reports are reviewed and audited to ensure they are effective and comply with the standards we demand of an Expert Witness and Opinion. Any future communication between you and the Expert is as a private individual. We do not receive payment or any fee for this exchange. Good will and good intentions are assumed until proven otherwise. We do not operate an Experts Roster as such. All our Experts are known to us personally and while we are based in London, not all of our members live and work in the UK and may not be contactable if in their field of operations.

You do not learn to ski by reading a book, and Anthropologists and Museum Ethnographers spend most of their time overseas or in their museums.

We can provide Expert Witness and Opinion reports that contextualize, complement and accompany Expert Medico-Legal reports (MLRs) documenting the physical and psychological results of torture and other human rights abuses.

All our reports comply with the Istanbul Protocol. We will accept referrals from legal practitioners in the form of detailed instructions to an Expert Witness. Reports are reviewed and audited to ensure they are effective and comply with the duty to the court required of an Expert Witness and Opinion. This is a highly specialized area and we work with all our Anthropologists to ensure their work is valid, relevant and useful.

We internally review and audit to ensure efficacy. Medico Legal Reports and Expert Opinions must comply with the duty to the court required of an Expert Witness. This quality control process means that all our Anthropologists work to the same high standards.

IF an Anthropologist is recruited and agrees to testify in Court we will ensure they are prepared as much as possible and that their role is useful and the information they provide based on real experience and expertise. UK Courts are adversarial and use reductionist interrogation techniques and processes of elimination. Given what is at stake, this is to be expected and welcomed. But do not expect this to be a pleasant experience. This is no place for the naïve and uninitiated. Good intentions are not good enough.

We offer training to increase the availability of experience, expertise and knowledge in this area. Read More here

• Who are you, who do you represent and why are you requesting a report?
• What category of report are you requesting? i.e. Which sub discipline – law, finance, politics, medicine, education (language & literacy), defence etc.
• How do you see us supporting your claim?
• Where: do you require information about a Country or Region or smaller territory?
• What type of information? Brief Overview; Summary; detailed account?
• What decisions do you need to make, based on the information requested?