Extending the CARE Principles: managing data for vulnerable communities in wartime and humanitarian crises
Yana Suchikova, Serhii Nazarovets
Abstract
The CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) have emerged as a cornerstone for ethically managing data related to Indigenous peoples 1 . Designed to complement the technical standards of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), CARE emphasizes the cultural, ethical, and social dimensions of data stewardship. These principles ensure that data governance prioritizes community well-being, respects local values, and protects the rights of vulnerable groups. While initially focused on Indigenous data, CARE’s ethical imperatives can – and should – be extended to other vulnerable communities. This comment explores how the CARE Principles can be applied to data governance in conflict-affected environments, ensuring ethical stewardship of sensitive information for vulnerable populations. While the discussion is framed through the lens of the Russo-Ukrainian war – focusing on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and civilians in occupied territories – the insights presented here have broader implications for humanitarian data management in other war-affected regions. By doing so, CARE can offer a unified ethical framework for addressing the challenges of data governance in complex humanitarian contexts.