Code of EthicsThe Code of Ethics of Bahrain Public Relations Association, which its draft has been discussed during the Fifth Gulf Forum of Public Relations Practitioners, held in Bahrain during the period 5 – 7 June 2012, considered as a proposal to Code of Profession & Conduct committing the members of the association in practicing the profession as is the case on a larger global scale.
This Code of Ethics is incorporated as one package within the frame of the Code of Venice on Professional Conduct Adopted in 1961, Code of Athens 1965 and Code of Brussels 2007.
On the basis of the teachings of our Islamic religion, which calls for peace, love, honesty and respect for human rights.
On the basis of the Charter of the United Nations, which provides for "reaffirms the abiding faith in fundamental human rights, the dignity and respect of the Mankind".
On the basis of the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights", 1948, Article 19 in particular.
On the basis that Public Relations, and by encouraging the free flow of information, contribute to the achievement of the interests of all stakeholders.
On the basis that the Code of Ethics of the Public Relations and Public Affairs provides a fundamentally democratic representation of public authorities.
On the basis that public relations practitioners, and through extensive communications skills that they have possess the means of influence which should be controlled through adherence to the Code of Ethics.
On the basis that the channels of communications such as the Internet and other digital media, through out of which may widely publish false misleading information and stay away from accountability, and consequently they require special attention by practitioners of public relations in order to maintain trust and credibility.
Compliance with this Code of Ethics for public relations practitioners and all colleagues, Members of the Bahrain Public Relations Association on a global scale.
Practitioners of Public Relations Profession must consider:
Respect: Respect of the Charter of the United Nations and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Integrity: The practitioner must act with honesty and integrity at all times in a manner ensuring to secure and maintain the confidence of those involved in his communications during his work and avoid obtaining through deception or any other impartial means, and to refrain from selling copies of documents obtained from public bodies to third parties for profit, and to refrain, during the provision of professional services from accepting any payments in connection with these services from any person other than the unconcerned person, and refrain, directly or indirectly, provide any temptations of financial or non-financial of public figures, media or any other interested parties.
Dialogue: Seek to establish the ethical, cultural and intellectual conditions for dialogue, and recognize the rights of all parties concerned to disclose their positions and express their views.
Transparency: Enjoy the openness and transparency in declaring their names and the names of their institutions and the interests they represent.
Avoid Conflicts of Interests: Avoid any Professional conflict of interest and disclosure of such cases to affected parties when occurs, and do not create or use any institution to serve the declared goals while working effectively to serve undeclared the interests.
Confidentiality: Respect the confidentiality of information provided to them and to ensure that staff recruited from public bodies or competitors follow and adhere to the rules and confidentiality requirements of these institutions.
Accuracy and Honesty: Take all appropriate steps to ensure the validity and accuracy of all information provided and exert every possible effort to prevent the deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information, and be cautious in doing so unintentionally, and rectify any behavior of this nature immediately.
Avoid Abuse of Power: Not to propose or to perform any act that may be construed as exercising an improper influence on public figures, media or any other interested parties.
Respect for Competition: Never Offend, becomes deliberately prejudice or defame the professional reputation of any other competitor, and never attempt to secure another practitioner from a client in deceptive ways.
Diplomacy: Adhere to Decency, and never deviate from the public Politeness.
Objectivity: Practitioner must avoid conflict of personal interests with the public interests of the organization’s objectives.
Neutrality: Dissemination of information without interference in the source of such information and must not withhold some information that conflict with the interests of the practitioner.
The members of Bahrain Public Relations Association, By approving this Code of Ethics, , agree to commit themselves to render and assist to enforce the disciplinary procedures of the International Public Relations Association, should there be any breach or violation to this Code.