Page 73 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

2.10.2 Security of nurses and midwives

Nursing and midwifery professional bodies should continue to place a high priority on the security
of their members.

• Further measures should be implemented to increase active support for nurses and midwives,

including, statements by governments on non-acceptability of violence against nursing staff,

training in negotiating skills and anger diffusion for staff at highest risk, and prosecution of those
responsible for violence against staff.

Institutions in which nursing and midwifery are practiced should be places where high priority is

placed on ethics by all levels of management and staff.

• Nursing associations and regulatory bodies should audit institutions for ethical management, for

respecting the rights of staff and patients and for the accuracy and integrity of information they
publish

Nurses and human rights violations

Nursing bodies should ensure that nurses and midwives can play an effective role in protecting

human rights. They should also monitor abuses targeted at nurses and strengthen their response
at national and international level.

• Nursing associations should ensure that their codes of practice and ethics address adequately

the role and responsibilities of nurses and midwives with respect to the human rights of patients

and the citizens. In particular the prohibition on professional involvement in torture or other ill-
treatment, the death penalty and harmful traditional practices should be made clear.

• Associations should ensure that professional ethics and codes of behavior apply throughout the
profession in all work settings.

70 Academic Year 2025/2026