At a session held on November 22, 2018, the Assembly of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM unanimously voted
THE ETHICS CODE
OF THE LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
- Core values of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights
The Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights is a professional, voluntary, non-governmental association of citizens established for an indeterminate period of time in order to achieve goals in the field of protection and promotion of human rights in accordance with generally accepted civil standards, international conventions and domestic laws, the establishment and development of a legal state and the rule of law, and transitional justice.
The Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, as a basis for its work,uses a set of core values, such as:
- professionalism,
- transparency,
- accountability,
- integrity,
- solidarity,
- democracy,
- gender equality.
- Conflict of interest
In its operation, the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights seeks to prevent situations in which the private interest of an employee or member of the Association would or could influence his/her conduct when performing a job or function at the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights in a manner that jeopardizes the interest of the Association (“conflict of interestʺ).
2.1. Employment and engagement of associates
The Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights advocates for the transparent, objective and impartial selection and recruitment of employees and associates, based on pre-developed and available criteria.
Family members of employees and members of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights will not receive preferential treatment when it comes to employment or engagement by the Association.
Recruitment to the Association will be conducted based on a test of candidates’ abilities and knowledge and after consideration of all candidacies.
2.2. Gifts and costs of representation
In its operation, the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights will not give or receive any gifts or services that could affect its impartiality in decision-making, forming opinions or the conduct of the Association’s affairs.
2.3. Travel and property of the Association
Business travel by employees and members of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights, which is funded by the Association, must be directly linked to the work of the Association and will only be used when necessary.
Property and assets belonging to the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights must be used rationally, in accordance with their purpose and the objectives of the Association.
2.4. Private activities of members and employees
Members and employees of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights cannot engage in activities, i.e. perform functions that are incompatible with the function they perform in the Association or diminish their capacity to perform their duties correctly.
Members and employees of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights must engage in their private activities in a way that does not harm the credibility of the Association.
Political convictions or activities of members and employees of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human rights will not influence the work and political neutrality of the Association.
- Confidentiality of information and respecting privacy
In its work, the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights respects the privacy of its employees, associates, beneficiaries and clients. The Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights will only collect data necessary for achieving the purpose it is collected for, and will not share the data of employees, associates, beneficiaries and clients without their consent, in accordance with the Law on Personal Data Protection.
- Prevention and resolution of conflict through dialogue
Members and employees of the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights will promote the value of dialogue, strive to resolve possible conflicts between employees and with outside associates in the early phase of the conflict and take advantage of alternative conflict resolution mechanisms whenever possible.
- Financial transparency and independence
Reports about the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights’ management are public. Reporting about project activities is performed in accordance with the requests of every donor, including the possibility of external revision.
The Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights will not accept financing that could damage the Association’s independence, i.e. the financing of activities which would conflict with the goals and values the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights advocates for.