Code of conduct:
Prevention of abuse
and safeguarding
Extracts and key messages
On 24 January 2018, Handicap International’s global movement
became Humanity & Inclusion.
The Federation, which runs projects in around sixty countries,
is now working under the operating names of “Humanity &
Inclusion”, “Handicap International” or “Atlas Logistique”.
Any document with the letterhead “Humanity & Inclusion”
applies de facto to Atlas Logistique and Handicap International
teams.
The Code of conduct applies to:
• people on permanent or temporary employment
contracts with Humanity & Inclusion (HI),
• any family members accompanying international
staff on their missions,
• consultants,
• interns,
• voluntary workers and international volunteers,
• service providers and partner organisations
collaborating with HI.
The Code of conduct both applies during and outside
working hours.
Definitions
The definitions below are HI’s own definitions. Their purpose is to make sure
everyone understands exactly what HI means by the terms listed. Therefore, they
may differ to a certain extent from the legal definitions in effect in each of the
countries in which this Code of conduct applies.
Abuse:
Any act of physical or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or exploitation
involving potential or actual harm to the health, survival, development or dignity
of others and committed by a person in a position of responsibility, trust or power.
Abuse of power:
The improper use of a position of power, influence or authority by an individual
against others.
This abuse can take the form of intimidation, threats, blackmail or humiliation (this
list is not exhaustive).
Sexual abuse:
Any act, attempt or threat of a sexual nature involving force or in unequal or
coercive conditions.
The use of actual force is not necessary for such acts to be considered sexual
abuse.
Sexual exploitation:
Any actual abuse or attempted abuse committed for sexual purposes by an
individual in a position of responsibility, power or trust.
This also includes obtaining financial, political or social gains of the sexual
exploitation of another individual.
Participating in the organisation of abuse is also considered to be sexual exploitation.
Harassment:
Any inappropriate conduct which has the purpose or effect of offending or
humiliating others. This conduct may be of a verbal, non-verbal or physical nature
and intended to hurt, degrade, intimidate, humiliate or embarrass, or to create a
climate of hostility, intimidation or discomfiture.
Harassment usually supposes a series of incidents.
You work for or with Humanity & Inclusion (HI)
As an aid and development organisation promoting respect for the dignity and
fundamental rights of people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, HI is
committed to ensuring the protection not just of its beneficiaries, but also of all
those in contact with its actions. In the course of your mission, you will find yourself
in positions of trust and power with regard to these populations, your own staff
and HI’s collaborators. In such situations, members of HI are expected to behave in
an appropriate, responsible and respectful manner.
Each member of HI represents the organisation and is responsible for safeguarding
its image. Any lack of respect for its values damages HI’s reputation and can
undermine the legitimacy of its actions.
This Code of conduct outlines the behaviours and practices expected of you with
regard to the protection of beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse, as well
as the actions to be avoided in order to guarantee that the relations created within
our teams, with our beneficiaries and with all those in contact with our organization,
are respectful of HI’s ethics and, more generally, of the values it defends.
For people who are part of HI (members and personnel), a professional whistle-
blowing mechanism is available on Hinside, the organisation’s platform for
internal communication and collaboration: [Link]
prod_2149085/en/professional-whistle-blowing-mechanism
For people from outside HI (beneficiaries, partners, suppliers, others), a complaint
system is available on the organisation’s website: [Link]
and-professional-information#ancre10
Or write to the following address:
Humanity & Inclusion
Complaints
138 avenue des Frères Lumière
CS 88379
69371 Lyon Cedex 08
France
I will ensure that all beneficiaries (including
children), employees, partners, community-based
actors and any other people with whom I come
into contact are treated with respect, dignity and
equality.
Extracts of the Code of conduct
I will always make sure that beneficiaries (including children),
staff and partners are treated with respect, dignity and
equality regardless of their age, sex, physical condition,
impairment, language, religion, opinion, nationality, ethnic or
social origin, status, class, caste, sexual orientation, or any
other personal characteristics.
I will always show respect to all categories of employees,
partner’s staff, community volunteers or beneficiaries.
I will never exploit a beneficiary (including a
child) and will never verbally, physically or
psychologically abuse or commit any other form
of abuse against a beneficiary.
Extracts of the Code of conduct
I will never subject a beneficiary to any kind of humiliating,
degrading or abusive behaviour, whether physical, verbal or
psychological or of other nature.
I will never use language or make suggestions to provoke,
harass or degrade the person or knowingly show disrespect
for traditional/cultural practices.
I will not tolerate or engage in any form of physical
or psychological harassment, discrimination,
abuse of power or intimidation at work, including
by making derogatory comments or adopting a
demeaning attitude.
Extracts of the Code of conduct
I will never engage in or tolerate any form of harassment,
discrimination, physical or verbal abuse, intimidation
or favouritism in the workplace, including sexual and
psychological harassment and abuse of power, respecting
the rules that apply to me (especially Internal Rules) on these
issues.
I will always behave in a professional way with colleagues,
avoiding spreading rumours and false allegations and
refraining from any comment based on gender, sexual
orientation, or any other personal characteristics – which
may be considered as harassment.
I will never have sexual relations with a person
under the age of 18, regardless of the age of
consent, local customs or the law in effect.
Extracts of the Code of conduct
I will never engage in any form of sexual relations with
anyone under 18 years old, regardless of the age set by the
sexual majority, the law or local customs. Mistaking a child’s
age is not a defence.
I will never watch, publish, produce, or share pornography
showing children, and / or show such material to children.
I will never have sexual relations in exchange for
money, a gift of any kind, work or any form of
assistance.
Extracts of the Code of conduct
I will never engage in any form of sexual relations or favours
in exchange for money, gifts, job or humanitarian aid.
I will never directly or indirectly use an adult or a child to
provide sexual services to third parties, support, facilitate or
participate to any form of prostitution or sexual exploitation.
I will never sexually exploit a beneficiary or engage a child
in labour (including domestic work) against access to aid, or
any kind of benefit.
I will immediately report to my line-management
or a person of confidence in the workplace any
suspicions, information, rumours or doubts
concerning possible abuse - without having
investigated it personally.
Extracts of the Code of conduct
I will always raise any concern and query concerning the Code
of conduct, the PSEA and the Child Protection Policy with my
manager / supervisor, or if not possible, with another from
my hierarchy or with a designated focal person (according to
internal reporting rules).
I will immediately report any suspicions or allegations of
behaviour going against the principles of the Code of conduct,
the PSEA and the Child Protection Policy to my manager/
supervisor – even if the information or allegation is vague
and without having investigated it personally.
I will ensure that all beneficiaries are treated
with respect in all forms of verbal and written
communication.
Extracts of the Code of conduct
I will always use respectful words and the people’s
names when speaking to them and to other persons or
communicating on them.
I will always ensure that all audio, written or visual
communication respects the dignity and human rights
of the person featured (including anonymity when
necessary and for all children) and does not expose her
or him to any risk of retaliation or abuse of any nature.
I will never show the faces of beneficiaries or children who
are exploited sexually, victim of trafficking or abuse, in conflict
with the law, linked to armed groups or who can easily be
located even if their identity has been modified.
This booklet contains extracts and key messages from the Code of
conduct given to you when you first joined HI.
It is intended to make this Code of conduct easier to understand
and adopt for HI’s staff, collaborators and all those to whom it
applies.
It does not replace the full version of the Code of conduct.
© Marthe Pequignot / Humanity & Inclusion-2018
138 avenue des Frères Lumière
69008 Lyon
France