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- NGOs endorse code of conduct to promote transparency London, U.K; Friday, June 6th 2005 On June 6th in London, the heads of 11 of the world?s leading human rights, environmental and social development international organizations publicly endorsed the first global accountability charter for the non-profit sector. The charter is the result of two years? work by five leading international NGOs: Oxfam, Amnesty, Save the Children, Greenpeace and Care. The other signatories to the Charter are: ActionAid International, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Consumers International, Survival International, International Federation Terre des Hommes, Transparency International and World YWCA. 
Download the NGO Accountability Charter: (60KB)The Accountability Charter sets out core values and operating principles for international NGOs. These include good governance and management; fundraising and multi-stakeholder engagement. It also makes specific reference to respect for universal principles (such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), independence, responsible advocacy, effective programmes, non-discrimination, transparency and ethical fundraising. It is expected that this international cross-sector initiative will attract broad-based support. Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, General Secretary of the World YWCA, said of the Charter: ?Accountability and transparency in all aspects of our work are fundamental to our mission to improve the lives of women and girls around the world. Through this Charter, a wonderfully diverse group of NGOs have joined forces to express their commitment to striving for the highest ethical standards.? In recent years, NGOs have come under increasing pressure to uphold the same standards of conduct that they demand from the targets of their campaigns. Jeremy Hobbs, director of Oxfam International, says: ?It is important that there is a demonstrable standard for NGOs that work on the international stage.? Burkhard Gnaerig, director of Save the Children International, concurs: ?Challenging business and government to be more accountable is a crucial part of our role. If we are to point the finger at others we need to be completely clean in our own back yard.? Realizing Rights welcomes all initiatives that aim to increase the accountability and transparency of government, business and non-governmental sectors. Other key initiatives within the INGO community include: The Sphere Project is an international initiative aimed at improving the effectiveness and accountability of disaster response. The Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response sets out what people affected by disasters have a right to expect from humanitarian assistance. The aim of the Project is to improve the quality of assistance provided to people affected by disasters, and to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian system in disaster response. The Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) is a self-regulatory body for the humanitarian sector. Its origins date back to the publication, in 1996, of the Joint Evaluation of the International Response to the Genocide in Rwanda. One of the main recommendations from the Joint Evaluation was to establish an independent humanitarian accountability mechanism. HAP is a partnership of member agencies that share a commitment to making humanitarian action accountable to disaster survivors. One World Trust has developed cross-sector principles and guidelines of accountability with help from NGO, corporate and inter-governmental sectors. Their Global Accountability Project (GAP) offers practical recommendations on how to increase the transparency and responsiveness of global organizations. The Emergency Capacity Building Project is an undertaking of seven humanitarian agencies which aims to improve accountability and measurement of impacts in humanitarian relief. British Overseas NGOs for Development (Bond) is currently developing a set of quality standards. |