G e o r g i a    F o r u m
   
   
  Ethics code of public servants
(Basic principles)

As it is spelled out in the Constitution of Georgia "In Georgia the authority of the government is derived from people"

As the state was created in order to promote public welfare by realization of its authority;

And also as citizens bear the financial burden for maintaining the government;

The government should hold highest consideration for the fair interests and demands of people and every citizen;

As when the population does not trust own government, it refrains from presenting its own interests and demands before the government because of hopelessness;

Instead, dissent grows among citizens, which can express itself in unlawful and non-civilized actions.

Each official should be interested in public welfare and social stability in Georgia. For this, the trust of people in the government should be restored. Impartiality, fairness and efficiency of public service are the ways to reach this aim.

Thus, every public servant, as far as s/he represents the government in relations with citizens, should

Be Impartial

Public servant should be impartial in her/his deeds. The decisions and actions of the public servant while fulfilling public duties must not be based on self-interest, but governed by the interests of the people.

Uphold human rights and freedoms

Public servant should be guided by protection of the human rights and freedoms as spelled out in the Constitution of Georgia. Satisfaction of the fair interests of citizens represents main task of the government.

Be Professional

By qualification and education public servant should respond to the expectations of a citizen. Public servant should pursue highest possible quality of delivered services.

Ensure Transparency

Public servant should assist citizen to seek and receive any non-confidential information would it be the written document, oral statement, software or else. Public service is a public trust. Any citizen is entitled to know what any public servant or body does, because the citizen together with others delegates authority to them and covers expenses for salaries of public servants and activities of the government.

Maintain Confidentiality

Public servant should not disclose information that is officially recognized as confidential. As a public servant, s/he might have access to such information, but must not use it for self-interest, interests of relatives, friends and acquaintances. This rule should be followed even after resignation from the public post.

Be Accessible

Public servant must ensure that he/she is accessible to the citizens while performing public duties. He/she should not form the barriers that may prevent citizen from meeting. Public servant must designate the office hours that are open for the individual meetings and should be available for citizens at her/his workplace. Exceptions may occur in special circumstances only.

Be Tactful

Public servant should be tactful with citizens. S/he should not use given authority to in any way humiliate the honor and dignity of person. As a representative of the government s/he carries special obligation to refrain from unethical behavior in any situation. At the same time, s/he should be extremely delicate with citizens.

Ensure Publicity

Activities of the government are open for everyone. Thus, public servant should not put obstacles to citizen, to attend the session of any official body or participate in discussion of issues presented at the session, if it is not explicitly prohibited by the legislation of Georgia.

Be Responsible

Public servant is responsible for the legality of her/his actions and/or decisions, for the fulfillment of requirements stated here. S/he is obliged to guide himself with fair interests of people, country and every citizen. If by any reason he/she cannot fulfill these requirements, s/he should resign. Or if serious misuse of authority and/or breach duties occurs, public servant should appear before the court and be held accountable to the people of Georgia

Be Efficient

Public servant should fulfill duties as efficiently as possible. That is, inter alia, s/he should provide relevant service in stated time or, in case the timeframe is not defined by the regulations, on reasonable time.

In addition to above mentioned, while fulfilling the duties and deciding on issues, perfect public servant should:

  • Be Politically neutral
  • Be Fair
  • Uphold the principles
  • Be Benevolent
  • Be Conscientious
  • Be Authoritative
  • Take Initiatives
  • Be Trustworthy
  • Be Objective/honest
  • Be Dignified, even after resignation.


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