Georgian CSOs Consider Elaborating the Code of Ethics

A coalition of six Georgian and two US-based NGOs leading the implementation of the Citizens Advocate! Program (CAP) considers spearheading the lingering debate over the need of agreement on the minimum performance requirements for the Georgian civil society organizations (CSOs).

Georgia’s civic activists agree that increased capacity of the national civil groups brings about new responsibilities and new challenges. David Losaberidze of the leading think-tank Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) says the organizational development of the national CSOs is stagnating, as there is a need for expansion – for the new types of the projects and activities to be implemented.

In this sense, general agreement on the Code of Ethics can pinpoint the CSO developmental objectives for the coming years. Ramaz Aptsiauri of the UN Association of Georgia claims that certain “stagnation” of the CSOs can even prove healthy if it brings about discussion of the shared agendas.

Georgian CSOs also attempt to counter government discourses around representativity and financial diligence of the non-governmental entities by instituting agreed-upon standards and regulations. Vazha Salamadze, Chairman of the Georgian Business Law Center, points out that the recent attempts of the Ministry of Finance and the State Chancellery to institute tight control over CSO program implementation show their willingness to limit the CSO activism in Georgia.

Importantly, CSOs are concerned about attempts of the government agencies, certain partisan forces and interest groups to undermine public trust and credibility of the CSOs. Irina Tsintsadze of the Public Information Center “Alternative” (PICA) says that the Code of Ethics is a pre-emptive measure, which would help to mitigate public fears over accountability and provide much needed transparency to the civil sector.

While the needs for the Code of Ethics are clearly identified, its contents and the process of facilitating the sector-wide dialogue remain under discussion.

David Losaberidze says, that drawing on similar experience from the Baltic countries, the Georgian Ethic Code of Conduct should include basic operational norms of CSO activity, principles of relationships with the government, businesses, beneficiaries and other CSOs. It should also stress the values of transparency and democracy as the key elements of civic work. Clearly demonstrating that third sector is well structured and identifies its own ground rules is of extreme importance, Losaberidze believes.

Partners also agree that elaboration of the code should be an inclusive process, which would incorporate the voices of the grassroots groups in identifying the key areas to be addressed and will also draw on expertise of the respected CSO experts and lawyers in drafting of the Code itself.

According to Irina Tsintsadze, the Code of Ethics will help to minimize the gap between the society and civil sector, making NGO work more understandable and clear to the interested citizens. Ramaz Aptsiauri also believes that the Code would become a unique tool for communicating the accumulated expertise and knowledge of national civil groups to the younger civic activists, the government and the international agencies.

Clearly, Georgian civil activists place great hopes on the new process of reflection within the civil society. We would report further on this challenging process as the consultations on the Code of Ethics shape up.

By Julie Giorgadze, CAP Information Officer

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