Code of Conduct

To help fulfil its mission, the Security Identity Alliance has adopted a Code of Conduct, as an ethical framework for interventions by public, private and non-government organizations. It is the Alliance’s firm belief that strict adherence to high ethical standards is key to meeting the challenges and reaching the full potential of digital identities and secure eServices, to the benefit of all stakeholders.

The Code of Conduct provides general guidelines and principles, to serve as references on which to build concrete behaviour depending on the relevant situation at hand. It is conceived around the core notion of respect.

Respecting human dignity

Every human has a fundamental right to the respect of their dignity.

Adherents refrain from using forced labour, child labour, or labour provided under conditions that disrespect the workers’ fundamental rights of association, no-discrimination, due compensation and appropriate resting periods.

Respecting legality

Adherents are committed to respecting the laws, rules and regulations applicable to their activities depending on the jurisdiction at hand.

In doing so, they take into full consideration prevailing international decisions, treaties and conventions. They comply in particular with the applicable sanctions regimes set up against countries, companies or individuals, as well as with import/export legislations.
They do not use threats, bribes or other illegal means to influence the adoption or implementation of laws, rules or regulations, or the content of court decisions.

Respecting honesty

1. Adherents enact policies designed to identify, prevent or end conflicts of interest.

2. Adherents ensure proper use of their assets, so as to avoid them being used for purposes of bribery.

3. Adherents respect the principle of fair competition, notably in the context of tender procedures.

4. Adherents negotiate and perform contracts in good faith.

5. Adherents refrain from infringing intellectual property rights.

6. When establishing a relationship with a third party (contractors, consultants…), adherents do so with reputable and qualified parties, in writing. Remunerations shall reflect the services actually rendered. Payments shall always be traceable and duly registered in the accounts

7. When communicating to other parties or to the public, adherents refrain from providing false, inaccurate or otherwise misleading information.

Respecting safety

Adherents actively seek to provide a safe and healthy environment at the workplace.

They maintain working conditions designed to reduce the risks of occupational injuries or diseases.

They enact policies to prevent and sanction inappropriate behaviour such as harassment (notably sexual harassment), violence, threatening, intimidation, proselyting or working under the influence of substances such as alcohol or illegal drugs.

Respecting sustainability

Adherents respect the applicable legal framework for the protection of the environment and design their activities so as to minimize their environmental impact.

Through their activities, they seek a durably positive impact on the concerned stakeholders, notably local communities.

Respecting neutrality

1. Adherents enact policies of no-discrimination on the basis of, notably, race, origins, social group, sexual orientation, religion, beliefs, opinions or language. This principle of no-discrimination applies notably to workers

2. Adherents respect the principle of free speech, inasmuch as freedom of speech is not invoked to justify claims, slogans, affirmations or questions designed to degrade adherence to the principles spelled out by this Code of Conduct.

3. Adherents do not make payments to governmental bodies (central or local), political parties or other individuals, groups, entities and organizations that aim the implementation of a political agenda, notably by supporting violent action.

Respecting equality

Adherents respect the principles of equal treatment and equal opportunities between human beings. They notably oppose gender-based discrimination or discrimination against persons suffering from disabilities

Respecting confidentiality

1. Adherents respect the confidentiality of the information provided to them by third parties on a confidential basis, in accordance with the terms under which such information was provided and with the applicable legal framework. They enact policies designed to safeguard such information from disclosure to unauthorized persons

2. Adherents respect and safeguard the confidentiality of personal data, in accordance with the applicable legal framework.

Implementation

All members of the Alliance adhere to this Code of Conduct, in addition to their own internal ethical and compliance rules.

Adherents observe this Code of Conduct when they act independently, as well as when they act in conjunction with third parties, which they must hold to the same standards to the best of their knowledge.

Adherents actively promote awareness of the Code of Conduct, internally and externally. They set up or extend internal mechanisms to assess compliance with this Code of Conduct, allow reporting of inappropriate behaviour and sanction disrespect of the principles it spells out.