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To speak of “universal” and “ubiquitous” ethics presupposes the existence of a strong ethical relativism... but minimises consideration of the significance and stakes involved in defending such relativism. Following a review of certain givens relating to ethics, morality and ethic relativism, the debate on the confrontation – in the field of ethics – between universal and local principles and practices, is illustrated by two examples drawn from public health research and programmes for AIDS: confidentiality about seropositivity and access to antiretroviral treatment. The debate can not be reduced to distinguishing between the universal and intangible nature of ethics, on the one hand, and the adaptation of these ethics to "context", on the other. To avoid the inherent pitfalls in each of these representations of ethics, these positions on universality and on context must be taken as given – and it must be understood as that they are both contradictory and indispensable.