The Ombudsman’s Office Code of Ethics
The International Ombudsman Association (IOA)
www.ombudsassociation.org
The International Ombudsman Association (IOA) Code of Ethics for organizational ombudsmen states:
The Ombudsman shall be truthful and act with integrity, shall foster respect for all members of the organization he or she serves, and shall promote procedural fairness in the content and administration of those organizations’ practices, processes, and policies.
Ethical Principles:
Independence
The Ombudsman is independent in structure, function, and appearance to the highest degree possible within the organization.
Neutrality and Impartiality
The Ombudsman, as a designated neutral, remains unaligned and impartial. The Ombudsman does not engage in any situation which could create a conflict of interest.
Confidentiality
The Ombudsman holds all communications with those seeking assistance in strict confidence, and does not disclose confidential communications unless given permission to do so. The only exception to this privilege of confidentiality is where there appears to be imminent risk of serious harm.
Informality
The Ombudsman, as an informal resource, does not participate in any formal adjudicative or administrative procedure related to concerns brought to his/her attention.
