Ellen Van Damme

This paper discusses the tension between ethics in theory and ethics in practice, along the continuum of overt and covert field research. I argue that complete overt research is not only unfeasible, but can even be dangerous or harmful to the people we research and the researcher. Within this discussion it can be stated that the formal standardized requirements of the ethics committees actually undermine our ability to act ethically. For this reason, I argue that there is a need to focus on a virtues based approach and reflective stance regarding ethics in the field. I use the case of Honduras, where I conducted field research on the role of women and gangs, to discuss this argument. High levels of insecurity in Honduras create a context of fear which prescribes certain rules of engagement with the wider political economy of violence, and specifically on community interactions with gangs (Hume 2009a; Wilding 2012). My research shows that there is a silent agreement among the people living in neighborhoods with gang presence not to engage in gang-related discussions. Local organizations also prescribe a strict code of conduct in the field, which prohibits the use of crime, violence and other related concepts. This raises key practical and ethical questions for researchers, not least-how do we research that which is silenced? The aim of the paper is to critically discuss the relation between university ethics processes-ethics 'in theory'-and street ethics or ethics 'in practice', when conducting (participatory) observation in urban neighborhoods and prisons in Honduras. Keywords overt/covert research, women and gangs, semi-ethnography, Honduras On our way down to the prison, I told Pablo [my gatekeeper] about my concerns regarding the fact that I am conducting research in urban communities detention centers where active gang members are present. I knew that gang members in prisons communicate with those in the communities, and I wondered what they would say about me as 'that foreign researcher'. Pablo tried to appease me by saying their level of communication does not reach that far. Once we arrived to the female prison and set foot to the gang module, he presented me together with his other colleagues as a group of psychologists that would come to work with them every week. He did not give me the floor to present myself, nor did the women seem to be really interested in me, but I was genuinely worried about the ethical issue of my presence there. On our way back, I asked Pablo whether he knew I was not a psychologist, but a criminologist. 'Of course', he told me, 'but we don't have to tell them everything either, do we? The fact that you come with us already explains enough'. I could not help but wonder, is this morally acceptable and ethically reconcilable? (fieldnotes 2018)

De befaamde muur die Trump wil bouwen zou het einde moeten betekenen van illegale immigratie uit het Zuiden. Doctoraatsstudente Ellen Van Damme: 'De VS beweert geen verantwoordelijkheid te dragen voor de onhoudbare situatie in Centraal­-Amerika. Ronduit hypocriet.' La Bestia (het beest) verwijst op een obscure wijze naar de goederentrein die veel migranten trachten te nemen om sneller richting het Noorden te reizen, maar ook naar de dood die velen te wachten staat. De migratieproblematiek in Centraal-­Amerika blijft veelal onderbelicht. In de Verenigde Staten blijft het verder uitbouwen van een grensmuur tussen het land en Mexico steun krijgen. Delen Het verder uitbouwen van een muur op de grens tussen de VS en Mexico zal het probleem van illegale migratie niet oplossen. In Europa en België dan zijn de meeste mensen verbaasd als ik zeg dat er zoveel Centraal­-Amerikanen trachten te migreren naar het Noorden: 1 miljoen mensen zonder enige aandacht van de buitenwereld op de vlucht. De meesten halen het niet of worden teruggestuurd.

The focus of this dissertation is on the reintegration of youth gang members in Honduras. The aim of this qualitative research is to broaden the knowledge of reintegration processes and programs in one specific country in Central America, namely, Honduras. A sample of fourteen interviews with stakeholders in the field of maras and pandillas is being investigated and the results revealed some similarities between the different methods of reintegration. Our data suggest that a comprehensive process, including the family, school, community, and governmental support via social politics is necessary to give the youngster a platform where he can reintegrate himself into society, and refrain from committing any criminal behavior. However, most respondents agreed upon the fact that leaving a gang is very difficult and includes high risks, the most infringing being assassination. Most stakeholders call for more investment in prevention at an early stage, i.e. before a youngster gets related to a gang.