Desmond M. Connor
The following is an excerpt from Volume 28, Issue 2 (September 2000)
Code of Ethics
The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) has discussed a draft Code of Ethics at numerous conferences and is now ready to take action on it. Members are being asked to review this draft for final revisions and adoption by its Board later this year.
- PURPOSE: The purpose of public participation is to make better decisions that reflect the interests and concerns of all affected stakeholders, including decision makers.
- ROLE OF PRACTITIONER: The role of the practitioner is to enhance the public's participation in the decision-making process and to assist the decision maker in being responsive to the public's concerns and suggestions.
- TRUST: A public participation practitioner should at all times encourage actions that build trust and credibility for the process and among the participants.
- DEFINING THE PUBLIC'S ROLE: The public's role in the decision-making process should be carefully considered and accurately portrayed to the public.
- OPENNESS: Information relevant to the public's understanding or evaluation of a decision should be disclosed.
- ACCESS TO THE PROCESS: All stakeholders should have the opportunity to take part in the public participation process. A stakeholder should not be given special privileges in the public participation process based on its sympathy for the decision maker's preferred alternative.
- RESPECT FOR COMMUNITIES: A public participation practitioner should avoid strategies that tend to polarize community interests or appear to divide and conquer.
- ADVOCACY: In interactions with the public, the practitioner should provide a clear understanding of when the practitioner is acting as an advocate for the public participation process and when the practitioner is acting as an advocate for a particular interest, party, or project outcome.
- COMMITMENTS: The practitioner has a responsibility to ensure that commitments made to the public by the decision maker are genuine and capable of implementation.
- SUPPORT OF THE PRACTICE: The experienced practitioner should participate in the development of new practitioners in the field and engage in efforts to educate decision makers and the public about the value and use of public participation.
For further information about IAP2, see www.iap2.org To comment on this Proposed IAP2 Public Participation Code of Ethics, email executive director Doug Sarno at iap2hq@pin.org or fax 703-971-0006.
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DESMOND M. CONNOR
"Improving the Practice of Public Consultation"
407-5332 Sayward Hill Crescent, Victoria, BC, V8Y 2H8
Voice: 250-658-1323 Fax: 250-658-8110
connor@connor.bc.ca www.connor.bc.ca |
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