UNIVERSAL PROTOCOL ON ETHICS IN INSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

AALEP has elaborated a Universal Protocol on Ethics in Institutional and Government Relations based on research and analysis of existing codes throughout the world. This code reflects the complementary nature existing between the different national association codes. It brings the common strands found in the various national codes to provide one common building block. We encourage institutional and government relations national associations to adopt this code. By doing so, we will be able to strengthen the influence of our industry among constituents around the world.    

Definition

Government Relations represent systematic efforts to influence the actions and policies of institutions and/or government to help achieve particular objectives or protect particular interests in public and in a way that reflects well on the practitioners and the decision-makers involved.

Institutional Relations refer to relations with Governments, Ministries/Departments, Embassies, Chambers of Commerce, International Organisations and Associations.

Declaration of Principles

A profession is distinguished by certain characteristics or attributes, including

• Mastery of a particular intellectual skill through education and training ;
• Acceptance of a duty to a broader society than merely to one’s clients/employers;
• Objectivity; and
• High standards of conduct and performance

We base our professional principles, therefore, on the fundamental value and dignity of the individual. We believe in and support the free exercise of human rights, especially freedom of expression  i.e. freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers either orally, in writing or in print, freedom of thought, freedom of association and of assembly, which are essential to the practice of good  institutional and government relations. The right to freedom of expression is the freedom to communicate opinions, information and ideas without interference, no matter what the content. The freedom to seek information means a right of access to information, subject only to prescribed limitations, and the freedom to receive information basically prohibits a Government from restricting that freedom. The freedom to impart or convey opinions to others implies that the right to express includes dissemination, such as by newspapers or the mass media. Information and ideas of all kinds embraces pluralism of thought and tolerance for unwelcome as well as new and challenging ideas.

In serving the interests of client and employers, we dedicate ourselves to the goal of better communication, understanding, and cooperation among diverse individuals, groups, and institutions of society. We also subscribe to, and, support equal opportunity of employment in the institutional and government relations profession and in lifelong professional development.

We pledge:

• To conduct ourselves professionally, with integrity, truth, accuracy, fairness and responsibility to our clients, our client publics, and to an informed society;
• To improve our individual competence and advance the knowledge and proficiency of the profession through continuing education and research and, where available, through the pursuit of professional accreditation; and
• To adhere to the principles of the Code of Professional Standards for the Practice of Institutional and Government Relations.

Code of Professional Standards

We are committed to ethical practices, preservation of public trust, and the pursuit of communication excellence in the field of government relations along with powerful standards of performance, professionalism, and ethical conduct.

We believe that in institutional and government relations, meaningful influence depends on trust that has to be earned. We earn the trust and influence through our behaviour, by what we do and what we say

• by building relationships with all those involved in government’s policies and decisions from both the political and bureaucratic sides of government;
• by showing respect, by listening and learning and by respecting confidences and points of view;
• by searching for ways to reach our goals while reaching other government goals, and serving the public interest as well as our own interests;
• by helping those in government to achieve political gains on good public policy and by taking our share of the political heat when decisions are tough;
• by telling the truth and doing it openly;
• by engaging the broadest possible group- our Board, the wider membership, the client groups of our organization, the media, the members of other political parties, the community at large and our own family and friends in a shared effort to make things better.

Advocacy

We will serve our client and employer interests by acting as responsible advocates and by providing a voice in the marketplace of ideas, facts, and viewpoints to aid informed public debate.

Honesty

We adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and truth in advancing the interests of clients and employers.

Integrity

We will conduct our activities with integrity and observe the principles and spirit of the Code so that our own personal reputation and that of our employer, and the institutional and government relations profession in general, is protected.

Expertise

We will encourage members to acquire and responsibly use specialized knowledge and experience to build understanding and client/employer credibility. Furthermore, we will actively promote and advance the profession through continued professional development, research, and education.

Loyalty

We will insist that members are faithful to those they represent, while honouring their obligations to serve the interests of society and support the right of free expression.

Code of Practice

We believe it is the duty of every association of  institutional and government relations professionals and every member within that association that is party to the above Code of Professional Standards to:

• Acknowledge that there is an obligation to protect and enhance the institutional and government relations profession
• Keep informed and educated about the practices in the institutional and government relations profession that ensure ethical conduct
• Actively pursue personal development
• Accurately define what institutional and government relations activities can and cannot accomplish
• Counsel its individual members in proper ethical decision-making generally, and on a case specific basis
• Require that individual members observe the ethical recommendations and behavioural requirement of the Code

AALEP appreciates your feedback as well as your efforts in providing a translation of this Universal Protocol on Ethics in Institutional and Government Relations in your own language and forwarding a copy of it to us of the same.