Code of Ethics of the Human Geographical Society of Japan
Enacted on October 1, 2014
Preamble
The Human Geographical Society of Japan (hereafter “the Society”) establishes here the “Code of Ethics of the Human Geographical Society of Japan” to institute basic ethical principles that should be followed in research and education in human geography, as well as management of the Society. The members of the Society should fully understand and observe the Code of Ethics in development of human geographical research and social contributions.
Research in human geography is performed in all regions and among all people on the earth. The members of the Society should understand that their research is based on the trust and mandate of society, and thus should perform their work in a serious manner with universal fairness toward the regions and subjects of their studies. In addition, the members should be fully aware of the public nature of academic fields and their social responsibility when engaging in education, instruction and other practices of human geography, and should inform those who want to obtain knowledge and techniques of human geography of the concepts of this Code.
[Respect for Human Rights and Other Rights]
Chapter 1. The members of the Society should show respect for human rights everywhere and at all times, at all places and occasions without prejudice to any other rights related to privacy, portrait, and intellectual property.
[Elimination of Discrimination]
Chapter 2. The members of the Society should not engage in any discriminatory action regarding residence, gender, age, birth, ethnic background, religion, thought, principle, sexual orientation, physical features, disability, nationality, etc.
[Elimination of Harassment]
Chapter 3. The members of the Society should not engage in any behavior involving harassment.
[Accountability]
Chapter 4. The members of the Society should be accountable to all people under study regarding the objectives, methods, and publication of results of the study.
[Prevention of Damage]
Chapter 5. The members of the Society should not pose a threat to the life, property, and safety of regions, groups, and individuals in a study. Data obtained in the study should be under tight control and should not be disclosed without permission.
[Publication of Results]
Chapter 6. The members of the Society shall contribute to society by publishing the results of their studies.
[Elimination of Infringement of Copyright and Prevention of Scientific Misconduct]
Chapter 7. The members of the Society shall not infringe on any copyright, shall not steal or plagiarize the results of studies performed by others, and shall not falsify or fabricate data in their own study.
[Ensuring Mutual Criticism and Verification Opportunities]
Chapter 8. The members of the Society should ensure that opportunities are provided for appropriate evaluation and mutual criticism and verification of their study results.
[Appropriate Use of Research Funds and Legal Compliance]
Chapter 9. The members of the Society should use research funds appropriately and should comply with laws and related regulations.
[Conflict of Interest]
Chapter 10. The members of the Society should pay careful attention to conflict of interest and issues of a public nature.
[Supplementary Regulations]
The Board of Councilors will review a report of a violation of the Code of Ethics. In this review, the Board of Councilors should follow the details of supplementary regulations established through resolution by the Board, in addition to the Code of Ethics. For cases that are not covered by the regulations, the Board of Executive Councilors should make an appropriate judgement.
Details of supplementary regulations of the Code of Ethics of the Human Geography Society of Japan
Enacted on October 1, 2014
Revised on July 11, 2020
- The Board of Executive Councilors should discuss the details of a report of a violation of the Code of Ethics and attempt to solve the problem. Such a report should be made with clear and concrete details in written form and prepared with a disclosed name. If it is found that a detailed investigation is required to determine if a violation occurred, an investigation committee is established. The Board of Executive Councilors should report the establishment of this investigation committee to the Board of Councilors.
- The investigation committee includes about three members, who are selected by the Board of Executive Councilors from members of the Society or non-members, if required. The members of the investigation committee should be selected from those who have no vested interests in both the person who submitted the report and the member accused of a violation.
- The members of the investigation committee elect a chairperson by mutual vote, investigate the facts of the situation and prepare a draft report indicating the presence or absence of a violation of the Code of Ethics and, if present, a treatment policy according to the seriousness of the violation, based on the facts. The draft report should be sent to the Board of Executive Councilors.
- Based on the report from the investigation committee, the Board of Executive Councilors determines the treatment policy plan for discussion by the Board of Councilors.
- After the treatment policy plan is accepted by resolution of the Board of Councilors, the President should convey the judgement on the violation, the reasons for the judgement, and the resultant outcome to both the person who made the original report and the accused member in written form.
- A member accused of a violation can appeal against an outcome to the President in written form.
- If an appeal is made according to the previous section, the Board of Executive Councilors should discuss this appeal in cooperation with the investigation committee, and provide a final treatment policy plan to the Board of Councilors, who will determine the final outcome.
- The Board of Executive Councilors should determine the propriety for publication of the name of the person who made the original report and the member who was accused, including the details of the original report, and the details and reasons for the final outcome, in consideration of the details and seriousness of the violation.
- The name of a member who is removed from the Society according to Section 2 of Chapter 10 of the bylaws will be disclosed in public through publication in the Miscellany column of the Japanese Journal of Human Geography
- Board members including the members of the investigation committee and secretariats of the Society should not disclose any information other than the published information.
[Supplementary Regulation] The details can only be revised after obtaining approval from the Board of Councilors.