Anthropological practices in sexuality and genocide studies : Ethical and moral dilemmas

The American Anthropological Association stipulates that the first duty of anthropologists is: do no harm. Yet early anthropologists such as Snouck Hurgronje actively supported colonial governments and their wars. Even Benedict supported a war effort. In my work on genocides and sexual rights I struggled with ethical and moral dilemmas and upheld a human/women's/sexual rights framework. In this lecture I suggest that to confront present day challenges anthropologists should go beyond an anthropocentric definition of rights, help marginalized communities to make their concerns known and engage in debates on the common good, defined by plurality and diversity.