Նպաստել լիբերալ ժողովրդավարության ինստիտուտների և իրավական պետության կայացմանը՝ փաստահեն քաղաքականությունների մշակման, ոչ ֆորմալ կրթության, փորձագիտական այլընտրանքային աշխատանքների իրականացման և խոցելի խմբերին ու պետական, տեղական ինքնակառավարման մարմիններին, զանգվածային լրատվության միջոցներին և այլ շահառուներին մասնագիտական աջակցության ցուցաբերման, պետության և հասարակության միջև երկխոսության ստեղծման միջոցով։

«Լիբերալ քաղաքականության ինստիտուտ» հասարակական կազմակերպությունը (ՀԿ) հիմնադրվել է 2018թվականին Երևան քաղաքում, սակայն գործունեության աշխարհագրությունը ներառում է Հայաստանի ողջ տարածքը և Արցախը։

Հիմնադրումից ի վեր ինստիտուտն իրականացրել է լիբերալ ժողովրդավարության ինստիտուտների ու օրենքի գերակայության ամրապնդմանն ուղղված մի շարք ծրագրեր՝ կեղծ տեղեկատվության և ատելության խոսքի տարածման դեմ պայքարի, մեդիագրագիտության, Հայաստան – ԵՄ հարաբերությունների հեռանկարների, Հայաստանում ընթացող ժողովրդավարական բարեփոխումների քաղաքականության մշակման, ՏԻՄ-երի զարգացման, կանանց քաղաքական մասնակցության բարձրացման և կարողությունների հզորացման, ձեռնարկատիրական հմտությունների բարելավման և այլ ոլորտներում։

Ինստիտուտը ուղեղային անկախ կենտրոն է (Think Tank), որն իրականացնում է բազմապիսի փորձագիտական աշխատանքներ և հետազոտություններ, ինչպես նաև մշակում է փաստահեն ռազմավարություններ՝ ուղղված կոնկրետ ոլորտների բարելավմանն ու իրական փոփոխությունների հանգեցմանը։

Ինստիտուտի գործունեության կարևորագույն բաղադրիչն են նաև ոչ ֆորմալ կրթության միջոցով հասարակությանը ժամանակակից զարգացումներին համահունչ գիտելիքներով զինելը, ֆորմալ կրթության բացերի լրացումը, տաղանդների բացահայտումն ու դրանց զարգացմանը նպաստելը, հասարակական գիտակցության բարձրացումը։

Իր գործունեության ընթացքում ինստիտուտը իրականացնում է «Լիբերալ քաղաքականության դպրոց» ծրագիրը, որը ոչ ֆորմալ կրթական ծրագիր է տաղանդավոր երիտասարդների համար, ովքեր հետաքրքրված են լիբերալիզմով, Մարդու իրավունքներով և քաղաքականությամբ։

Դպրոցն ունի ավելին քան 170 շրջանավարտ ովքեր շարունակում են իրենց մասնակցությամբ կապ պահպանել շրջանավարտների ցանցի միջոցով։

Ինստիտուտն իր գործունեությունը ծավալում է ստորև ներկայացված ուղղություններով, որոնք ամրագրված են կազակերպության կանոնադրության մեջ․

• Հայաստանում ժողովրդավարության և լիբերալիզմի զարգացմանն ու ամրապնդմանը նպատակաուղղված կրթական դասընթացների, սեմինարների, թրեյնինգների, համաժողովների կազմակերպում
• Հետազոտությունների, վերլուծությունների և հարցումների իրականացում
• Կրթական և իրազեկման նպատակ ունեցող տեղեկատվական և քարոզչական նյութերի, հոլովակների և ֆիլմերի պատրաստում և հրատարակում
• Տեղական և միջազգային կրթական հաստատությունների, հասարակական կազմակերպությունների և հիմնադրամների հետ համագործակցում
• Ժողովրդավարության, լիբերալիզմի և մարդու իրավունքների վերաբերյալ հանրության իրազեկվածությունը մեծացնելու համար ԶԼՄ-ների հետ համագործակցում
• Կրթական և հետազոտական ոլորտներում պետական և տեղական ինքնակառավարման մարմինների հետ համագործակցում
• Ոչ ֆորմալ կրթության միջոցով երիտասարդության իրավագիտակցության բարձրացում ու նոր քաղաքական մշակույթի ձևավորմանն աջակցություն
• Մասնակցություն ազգային և միջազգային քաղաքական ծրագրերի մշակմանը և իրականացմանը
• Տարածաշրջանային և միջազգային քաղաքական և հասարակական (այդ թվում՝ կրթական) կառույցների հետ կապերի հաստատում, ինչը կնպաստի Հայաստանի քաղաքական և հասարակական (այդ թվում՝ կրթական) կազմակերպությունների՝ այդ կառույցներին անդամագրմանը
• Հայաստանում և նրա սահմաններից դուրս կազմակերպությունների և միջազգային ցանցերի հետ կապի պահպանում՝ փորձի փոխանակման և համատեղ ծրագրերի իրականացման նպատակով։

CODE OF ETHICS

“INSTITUTE OF LIBERAL

 POLITICS”

Non-Governmental Organization

Table of Contents

I.  General provisions. 3

II. Personal and Professional Integrity. 3

III. Support of Mission.. 3

IV. Governance and Accountability. 4

V. Truthfulness and Legality. 4

VI. Financial Stewardship.. 5

VII. Transparency and Disclosure. 5

VIII. Conflict of Interest. 5

IX. Program Evaluation.. 6

X. Inclusiveness and Diversity. 6

XI. Confidentiality and Data Protection.. 6

XII. Fundraising. 6

XIII. Whistleblower Protection.. 7

XIV. Public Communications & Social Media Use. 7

XV. Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility. 7

Annex
1: Examples of Conflict-of-Interest Situations. 8

Adopted by the Board of “Institute of Liberal Politics” Non-governmental organization on July 20, 2022.

I. General provisions

1.   The Code of Ethics (hereinafter referred to as “Code”) of “Institute of Liberal Politics” (hereinafter referred to as “Organization”) is a fundamental document that defines the values and principles of the activities of the Organization, the rules of conduct for the members, employees and volunteers, management, issues related to applying liability measures for violations thereof, as well as other issues associated with the relations arising from this Code.

2.  The purpose of the Code is to orientate the members, employees, and volunteers of the Organization into being guided by the fundamental values and principles adopted by the Organization and to act with high standards of honesty and responsibility.

3.    To ensure compliance with this Code of Ethics, the Organization establishes the following enforcement mechanisms:

A three-step disciplinary process, including:

–       Written Warning – Issued for minor infractions.

–       Corrective Action Plan – Required for repeated or serious ethical breaches.

–       Dismissal or Contract Termination – Applied in cases of severe violations.

II.         Personal and Professional Integrity

All staff, board members, members and volunteers of the “Institute of Liberal Politics” Non-governmental organization act with honesty, integrity and transparency in all their dealings with each other both within the organization and as representatives of the organization. The organization promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness, integrity, equal treatment and collaboration.

The organization is not to be part of, or controlled by, government or an intergovernmental agency.

The organization shall maintain independence and not be rigidly aligned or affiliated with any political party, although it may share a common political or legislative cause within the limit of its mission, stated objectives and legal structure.

The Organization operates with full independence from any government, political party, or intergovernmental agency. While it may advocate for policies aligned with its mission, it does not serve as a tool for government agendas. No external political entity shall have direct influence over the Organization’s decisions, programs, or priorities.

III.        Support of Mission

The organization has a clearly stated mission and purpose, approved in the Charter of the organization, in pursuit of the public good. All of its programs support that mission and all who work for or on behalf of the organization understand and are loyal to that mission and purpose. The mission is responsive to the constituency and communities served by the organization and are of value to the society at large.

IV.        Governance and Accountability

The organization has an active board that is responsible for setting the mission and strategic direction of the organization and oversight of the finances, operations, and policies of the organization. The board of directors through adopted policy:

• Exercises reasonable care, good faith, loyalty and due diligence in organizational affairs;
• Has a conflict of interest provision that ensures that any conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof are avoided or appropriately managed for the protection and benefit of the organization;
• Ensures that the organization conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;
• Ensures that the organization promotes working relationships with board members, staff, volunteers, and program beneficiaries that are based on mutual respect, fairness, and openness;
• Ensures that the organization is fair and inclusive in its hiring and promotion policies and practices for all board, staff and volunteer positions;
• Ensures that the resources of the organization are responsibly and prudently managed; and,
• Ensures that the organization has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively.

V.         Truthfulness and Legality

The organization is knowledgeable of and complies with all applicable laws, regulations and international conventions.

• The NGO gives out accurate information, whether regarding itself and its projects, or regarding any individual, organization, project, or legislation it opposes or is discussing.
• The NGO does not engage in any activities that are unlawful under the laws of the nation in which it is organized or works, and must be strongly opposed to, and not be a willing partner to, corruption, bribery, and other financial improprieties or illegalities.
• The NGO meets all of the legal obligations in the countries in which it is organized or works. Such obligations may include laws of incorporation, fundraising legislation, equal employment opportunity principles, health and safety standards, privacy rules, trademark and copyright legislation, and so forth.
• The NGO takes prompt corrective action whenever wrongdoing is discovered among its staff, governing body, volunteers, contractors, and partners.

The Organization complies with all applicable local, national, and international laws, including but not limited to:

• Data Protection Laws (e.g., GDPR, local privacy regulations) to safeguard personal and organizational data.
• Financial and Tax Regulations, ensuring full transparency in financial operations.
• Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws, prohibiting any form of unethical financial transactions.
• Employment and Labor Laws, ensuring fair hiring, non-discrimination, and workplace safety.

Any staff member or representative found violating legal or ethical standards will be subject to immediate disciplinary action.

VI.      Financial Stewardship

The organization manages its funds responsibly and prudently. This includes the following considerations:

• It spends allocated budget on programs in pursuit of its mission;

• It spends an adequate amount on administrative expenses to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, competent staff, and other expenditures critical to professional management;
• It compensates staff, and any others who may receive compensation, reasonably and appropriately;
• It has reasonable fundraising costs, recognizing the variety of factors that affect such costs;
• It ensures that all spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable and appropriate to fulfill the mission of the organization; and,
• It ensures that financial reports are complete and accurate in all material respects.

VII.         Transparency and Disclosure

The organization provides comprehensive and timely information to the public and all stakeholders and is responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information. All information about the organization will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of the organization. Basic informational data about the organization, reviews and compilations, and audited financial statements will be posted on the organization’s website or otherwise made available to the public. All financial, organizational, and program reports will be complete and accurate in all material respects.

VIII.         Conflict of Interest

A conflict-of-interest situation arises when the “private interests” of the staff compete or conflict with the interests of the organization. “Private interests” means both the financial and personal interests of the staff or those of their connections including:

• family and other relations;
• personal friends;
• the clubs and societies to which they belong; and
• any person to whom they owe a favor or are obligated in any way.

Staff should avoid using their official position or any information made available to them in the course of their duties to benefit themselves, their relations or any other persons with whom they have personal or social ties.

They should avoid putting themselves in a position that may lead to an actual or perceived conflict of interest with the organization. Failure to avoid or declare any conflict of interest may give rise to criticism of favoritism, abuse of authority or even allegations of corruption. In particular, staff involved in the procurement process should declare conflict of interest if they are closely related to or have beneficial interest in any company which is being considered for selection as the NGO’s supplier of goods or services.    

Appendix 1 provides some examples of conflict-of-interest situations, which may be encountered by staff.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Process

To maintain transparency and prevent conflicts of interest:

§ All staff, board members, and volunteers must complete an Annual Conflict of Interest Disclosure

§ Form and update it if any new potential conflicts arise.

§ Any individual with a disclosed conflict must recuse themselves from related decisions or discussions.

The Organization will review disclosed conflicts and take necessary actions to mitigate risks, including contract restrictions or reassignment of responsibilities.

IX.         Program Evaluation

The organization regularly reviews program effectiveness and has mechanisms to incorporate lessons learned into future programs. The organization is committed to improving program and organizational effectiveness and develops mechanisms to promote learning from its activities in the field. The organization is responsive to changes in its field of activity and is responsive to the needs of its constituencies.

X.         Inclusiveness and Diversity

The organization promotes inclusiveness and diversity in its staff, board and volunteers in order to enrich its programmatic effectiveness. The organization takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness and diversity in its hiring, retention, promotion, board recruitment and constituencies served.

XI.        Confidentiality and Data Protection

It is the policy of the organization that board members and employees of “Institute of Liberal Politics” NGO will not disclose confidential information belonging to or obtained through their affiliation with the organization to any person, including their relatives, friends, and business and professional associates, unless the organization has authorized disclosure. This policy is not intended to prevent disclosure where disclosure is required by law.

Board members, volunteers and employees are cautioned to demonstrate professionalism, good judgment, and care to avoid unauthorized or inadvertent disclosures of confidential information and should, for example, refrain from leaving confidential information contained in documents or on computer screens in plain view.

Upon separation of employment and at the end of a board member’s term, he or she shall return, all documents, papers, and other materials, that may contain confidential information.

Failure to adhere to this policy will result in disciplinary actions, up to and including termination of employment or service with “Institute of Liberal Politics” NGO.

Any breach of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment or affiliation with the Organization, as determined by the Board of Directors.

XII.       Fundraising

In raising funds from the public, organizations will respect the rights of donors, as follows:

• To be informed of the mission of the organization, the way the resources will be used and its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes;
• To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization’s board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities;
• To have access to the organization’s most recent financial reports;
• To be assured their grants will be used for the purposes for which they were given;
• To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition;
• To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by the law;
• To expect that all interactions with individuals representing the organization will be professional in nature.

Ethical Fundraising Standards

In all fundraising efforts, the Organization commits to:

§ Honest Representation – Clearly stating the intended use of funds in all fundraising materials.

§ Refusal of Controversial Donations – Rejecting funding from sources that contradict the Organization’s values, including entities involved in human rights violations or corruption.

§ Strict Donor Privacy Protections – Ensuring donor information is securely stored and used only for approved purposes.

XIII.         Whistleblower Protection

The Organization encourages employees, volunteers, and stakeholders to report unethical behavior without fear of retaliation. 

Reports can be made:

§ Confidentially via a designated reporting channel (email or anonymous form).

§ Directly to Board for urgent matters.

Without risk of retaliation, as the Organization prohibits any form of punishment against whistleblowers.

Any individual found retaliating against a whistleblower will face disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

XIV.         Public Communications & Social Media Use

Staff and representatives must differentiate personal opinions from official Organization statements. Only designated spokespersons may issue public statements on behalf of the Organization. Employees and volunteers must avoid sharing internal information on social media platforms. Any violation of this policy may lead to disciplinary measures.

XV.         Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility

The Organization recognizes the importance of environmental responsibility and commits to:

§ Reducing paper use through digital documentation.

§ Sourcing office supplies and event materials from eco-friendly suppliers.

§ Implementing recycling and waste reduction programs in all workspaces.

Annex 1: Examples of Conflict-of-Interest Situations

Examples of Conflict-of -interest Situations

• A staff member takes part in the selection of suppliers or contractors, one of the bidders under consideration being his family member, relative or close personal friend.
• A staff member has a financial interest in a company, which is being considered for selection as the NGO’s supplier of goods or services.
• A staff member accepts frequent or lavish entertainment or expensive gifts from the NGO’s suppliers or contractors.
• A staff member serves, as a member of the NGO’s recruitment or promotion board, and one of the candidates under consideration by the board is his family member, relative or close personal friend.
• A staff member responsible for processing applications for admission to a home for the elderly operated by the NGO is considering an application from his family member, relative or personal friend.

I acknowledge that I, ________________________a
Board member, standing committee member or employee (highlight relevant one) of “Institute of Liberal Politics” NGO, have reviewed the “Conflicts of Interest Regulation” before signing this report.

I hereby disclose information on all associations (all business and charitable organizations), which may involveժ a possible conflict of interest and will furnish further details upon request.

Feel free to attach additional sheets if you need.

☐  I do not have any conflicts of interest at this time

I also understand that I am required to disclose any other situation from which a possible conflict of interest might arise in the future.

Name:                                                                                    

Signature:                                                                               

Date:                                                                                      

Tab Content