Guidelines and Code of Conduct

Compliance with overly broad U.S. counterterrorism laws can force NGOs to violate the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Principles of Conduct in Disaster Response Programmes. 

 

photo by Trygve.u

 

Guidelines and Codes of Conduct

Examples of Charitable Sector Standards

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The following are some of the many guidelines and best practice standards developed by charitable and philanthropic organizations.  They reflect due diligence practices that protect charitable assets to be used solely for charitable purposes.

Response to Matthew Levitt's Take on Due Diligence by Charities (Part 1)

in
Date: 
July 15, 2010
Author: 
Kay Guinane

Mathew Levitt’s June 13, 2010 blog is full of unsubstantiated claims and flawed assumptions about the U.S. charitable sector's commitment to counter terrorism, as was his testimony before Congress in May. Riddled with errors and ambiguities, his sweeping statements about the U.S. charitable sector's commitment to counter terrorism demonstrate how little he understands the operations, ethical standards and programs of U.S. nonprofits.

Analysis: 2006 Treasury Dept. Voluntary Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines

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Date: 
May 21, 2009
External Link: 
From OMB Watch

On Sept. 29, 2006 the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) released updated Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities, its third version of recommendations for charities since 2002. The new Guidelines reflect Treasury consideration of public comments on a December 2005 revision of the original Guidelines, published in 2002. A new Annex provides an unconvincing explanation of Treasury's perception that terrorist abuse of charities is a substantial problem. The 2006 Guidelines place greater emphasis on their voluntary nature, saying charities should apply them to a degree commensurate with their risk of "abuse and exploitation" by terrorists. However, the fundamental problems that lead the nonprofit sector to call for withdrawal of the Guidelines remain unchanged.

UPDATED: Compliance Toolkit Aims to Inform and Protect UK Charities

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An online toolkit was launched on Nov. 10, 2009 to help United Kingdom trustees protect their charities from harm and abuse. Produced by the UK Charity Commission, the first chapter from the Compliance Toolkit: Protecting charities from harm provides information about relevant terrorism laws, identifies risks from terrorism or other financial crimes and encourages best practices of self monitoring for charities.  The remaining sections will be released in 2010 and 2011. 

UPDATED: Compliance Toolkit Aims to Inform and Protect UK Charities

in
Date: 
May 28, 2010

An online toolkit was launched on Nov. 10, 2009 to help United Kingdom trustees protect their charities from harm and abuse. Produced by the UK Charity Commission, the first chapter from the Compliance Toolkit: Protecting charities from harm provides information about relevant terrorism laws, identifies risks from terrorism or other financial crimes and encourages best practices of self monitoring for charities.  The remaining sections will be released in 2010 and 2011.  

Handbook Targets Reducing Corruption of Aid Delivery

in
Date: 
June 1, 2010

Aimed at humanitarian assistance stakeholders working on the front lines of aid delivery, Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Operations: A Handbook of Good Practices is a practical guide to help eliminate corruption in day-to-day operations and deliver more aid to those who need it most. The Handbook, produced by Transparency International, offers a catalogue of best practice tools for preventing and identifying corruption in humanitarian operations, including ways to track resources, confront extortion and detect aid diversion.

2004 Symposium at Pace Law School Addresses Issues with Treasury Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines

in
Date: 
December 13, 2004
External Link: 
OMB Watch

A Pace Law Review Symposium, "Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: The Impact on International Philanthropy", highlighted the need for changes in the guidelines and increased transparency of the reasons behind government decisions to shut down several Muslim charities accused of financing terrorists.

DoD Report: Guide to Nongovernmental Organizations for the Military

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Date: 
February 1, 2010

Hours after the devastating January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, both the U.S. military and American and international NGO community were en route to the island country with urgently needed food, water and medical supplies. The crisis in Haiti serves as an example of how disaster relief missions often bring military and NGOs actors together. To improve cooperation with NGOs working in humanitarian relief operations and to establish “social, economic, and political domestic order in the short-term, and in the longer term… conditions for a sustainable peace,” the Department of Defense published the Guide to Nongovernmental Organizations for the Military: A primer for the military about private, voluntary, and nongovernmental organizations operating in humanitarian emergencies globally (Guide) in July 2009.  

US, EU Grantmaker Groups Publish Accountability Principles for International Philanthropy

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The Council on Foundations (COF) and the European Foundation Center have published Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy, the result of a two-year consultative process of grantmakers and stakeholders from four continents. The COF press release announcing the document says: