Difference between revisions of "Code of Ethics"

Revision as of 02:22, 9 April 2009

Brahma Kumaris Info: Code of Ethics

Members are expected to act with honesty and integrity and have a responsibility to be familiar with, and abide by, this Code of Ethics.

Purpose

The following 4 points set out Brahma Kumaris Info's purpose which is to:

• support ex-BKs & individuals exiting the BKWSU
• supporting family member & friends of BKs and ex-BKs
• acting as a workgroup to research & document the Brahma Kumari movement (that is an attention on "publishing" rather than "chatting" & all the standards that go along with responsible publishing), and/or
• encouraging positive reform within the Brahma Kumari movement

A breach of any of this code may be considered a serious misconduct which will result in membership being suspended.

Codes

1) Members must at all times act in a way that they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the public and other members. At all times the welfare of the public and other members must be put first and every care taken to ensure that the forum, the public and other members are not exploited in any way.

2) Members must take all reasonable steps to preserve the confidentiality of information acquired through their involvement, to protect the privacy of individuals and organisations about whom information is held where privacy has been requested including information given in private messages.

3) Members must conduct themselves and their involvement in such a way that does not damage the interests of the forum and other members, except where those interests are unlawful or injurious damaging to others in which case public interest will take precedence.

4) If a member is convicted of a criminal offence in any court, has any proceedings commenced against him, civil or criminal, has proceedings commenced against him by any professional body, they must inform the administration. Similarly, members have a duty to inform the administration of such information pertaining to a fellow member.

5) If a member is an adherent, re-joins or seeks to promote the interests of the Brahma Kumari World Spiritual University (BK, BKWSU, BKWSO etc), the Adhyatmik Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (PBK, AIVV) or any other BK splinter groups, they must first inform the administration. Similarly, members have a duty to inform the administration of such information pertaining to a fellow member.

6) Membership will suspended whilst individuals are under investigation for an ethical complaint. Any member under investigation must cooperate with the investigation responding to admin requests where necessary.

7) Members must restrict their posting within the limits of reasonableness, accurateness and their own competence. Any serious allegations most be based on good evidence or supported by a personal witness statement if asked for.

Posts of an entirely personal and 'off forum' nature should be restricted to the blogging area and what would be best be said privately sent as a private message via members rather than published in public on the forum.

8) Members must ensure whoever holds legal parental responsibility for any child member is aware of the principles and practicalities of forum membership and assure that as far as possible they are maintained.

9) Members shall not attempt to give advice exceeding their qualifications or experience.

10) Members or whoever holds legal parental responsibility for any child member must read the Terms and Conditions of the forum at the outset of their involvement and understand the nature of it.

11) Members must limit their involvement, or refrain from posting, when their psychological health is impaired, they are under the influence of intoxicants and, if in doubt about their ability to perform, must seek appropriate advice from the administrators.

12) Members must maintain appropriate boundaries with and respect for other members at all times, so that they are not exploited in anyway. Threatening behaviour will not be tolerated.

13) Members must not seek to enter into a sexual, emotional or inappropriate relationship of any kind with other members beyond what would be considered professional. Nor should a registrant enter into a sexual relationship with a person related to or connected with other members where such contact would be to the detriment.

14) Members shall, in all their involvement value integrity, impartiality and respect for other members and seek to establish the highest ethical standards.

15) Members shall refrain from advertising their own professional services and using forum membership to further their own financial interests.

16) Members must conduct themselves in such a manner as not to bring the forum or themselves into disrepute, and must maintain fitting levels of respect and courtesy with other members.

17) If posting material, members must make every effort to ensure the accuracy of any claims made and protect the anonymity of other members, where possible seeking other member’s permission to do so where it relates to them.

18) If doing research, the nature, purpose and conditions of any research must be fully explained to other members and informed consent must be obtained from both other members and the administrators.

April 2009