Special thanks to the International Committee of the Red Cross for their initial work in developing a Code of Conduct. Their document entitled Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief has served as an example for our efforts.
IMPORTANCE OF THE CODE:
The ISPO Code of Conduct for International Non-Governmental Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Mobility Assistance was first developed by US ISPO to address the problem of charitable individuals and organizations offering free or low-cost services in developing countries only to find that their well-intentioned activities are actually harming local businesses, or may be otherwise inappropriate. The Code was published on the US ISPO website along with a form allow organizations to officially endorse the Code. The website then acknowledges and lists the signers. Those organizations that are also on the Humanitarian Data Base are recognized as well.
In response to the number of individuals who wrote in to endorse the Code of Conduct, US ISPO recently added a listing for individuals and that list is steadily growing. “We are delighted with the response we have received both in the US and in Latin America where the problem was first recognized. This code is a cornerstone in cooperative efforts to serve the disabled in developing countries in the most sustainable way possible”, said Jon Batzdorff, CPO who drafted the Code.
We invite you to join us in developing this agreement intended to maximize the effectiveness of humanitarian and development assistance. Please read the Code of Conduct carefully and contact US ISPO if you have comments or suggestions as to how to improve the content, format, or wording. If you agree with the Code of Conduct in its current form, please fill out the Endorsement Form. Your organization will be listed among those who endorse the Code of Conduct, including a badge that will appear on your listing in the O&P Humanitarian Database.
Questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the Code may be direct to Jon Batzdorff, CPO, Chair of the International Outreach Committee of USISPO.
In response to the number of individuals who wrote in to endorse the Code of Conduct, US ISPO recently added a listing for individuals and that list is steadily growing. “We are delighted with the response we have received both in the US and in Latin America where the problem was first recognized. This code is a cornerstone in cooperative efforts to serve the disabled in developing countries in the most sustainable way possible”, said Jon Batzdorff, CPO who drafted the Code.
We invite you to join us in developing this agreement intended to maximize the effectiveness of humanitarian and development assistance. Please read the Code of Conduct carefully and contact US ISPO if you have comments or suggestions as to how to improve the content, format, or wording. If you agree with the Code of Conduct in its current form, please fill out the Endorsement Form. Your organization will be listed among those who endorse the Code of Conduct, including a badge that will appear on your listing in the O&P Humanitarian Database.
Questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the Code may be direct to Jon Batzdorff, CPO, Chair of the International Outreach Committee of USISPO.
ISPO Code of Conduct for International Non-Governmental
Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Mobility Assistance
Prepared by Jonathan Batzdorff CPO
International Outreach Committee, US ISPO
Introduction
The number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offering prosthetic and orthotic and mobility aid and assistance to communities in developing countries is steadily increasing. Assistance ranges from direct fittings, donations of materials, supplies, used prostheses, wheelchairs, and shoes, to building clinics and training local practitioners. NGOs providing assistance range from large organizations to individual practitioners.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recognized that many NGOs claimed to be humanitarian but in fact "many launched operations in the field according to questionable, vague, or sometimes nonexistent ethical standards. As a result, the integrity of humanitarian action itself was threatened." In response to this concern, the Red Cross developed the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. The Code generally suggests that aid should not have political or religious strings attached, that building and supporting local capacity is valued over blindly handing out direct services or materials, and that every attempt is made to avoid creating dependence.
ISPO, as the world professional organization for prosthetics and orthotics and mobility, is the appropriate body for developing and recommending a Code of Conduct specifically addressing organizations, groups, or individuals offering assistance in prosthetics and orthotics. Like the Red Cross Code of Conduct, the ISPO document is not to prescribe methodology or procedures but rather to codify the ethical standards of assistance to which we agree as a profession and to which we aspire to achieve.
Code of Conduct for Prosthetic and Orthotic Nongovernmental Humanitarian and Development Assistance
The following code of conduct applies to those who offer prosthetic, orthotic or mobility related assistance. For simplicity, the term "organization" will be used to mean any NGO, organization, group, or individual offering such assistance. Adherence to the code is strictly voluntary.
Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Mobility Assistance
Prepared by Jonathan Batzdorff CPO
International Outreach Committee, US ISPO
Introduction
The number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offering prosthetic and orthotic and mobility aid and assistance to communities in developing countries is steadily increasing. Assistance ranges from direct fittings, donations of materials, supplies, used prostheses, wheelchairs, and shoes, to building clinics and training local practitioners. NGOs providing assistance range from large organizations to individual practitioners.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recognized that many NGOs claimed to be humanitarian but in fact "many launched operations in the field according to questionable, vague, or sometimes nonexistent ethical standards. As a result, the integrity of humanitarian action itself was threatened." In response to this concern, the Red Cross developed the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief. The Code generally suggests that aid should not have political or religious strings attached, that building and supporting local capacity is valued over blindly handing out direct services or materials, and that every attempt is made to avoid creating dependence.
ISPO, as the world professional organization for prosthetics and orthotics and mobility, is the appropriate body for developing and recommending a Code of Conduct specifically addressing organizations, groups, or individuals offering assistance in prosthetics and orthotics. Like the Red Cross Code of Conduct, the ISPO document is not to prescribe methodology or procedures but rather to codify the ethical standards of assistance to which we agree as a profession and to which we aspire to achieve.
Code of Conduct for Prosthetic and Orthotic Nongovernmental Humanitarian and Development Assistance
The following code of conduct applies to those who offer prosthetic, orthotic or mobility related assistance. For simplicity, the term "organization" will be used to mean any NGO, organization, group, or individual offering such assistance. Adherence to the code is strictly voluntary.
- An organization providing prosthetic/orthotic/mobility aid shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality or political party in the selection of its projects or in the conduct of its operations.
- Assistance shall not require any political or religious endorsements or behavior in order to receive benefits.
- Assistance organizations shall respect the local customs and culture of the communities it serves.
- When possible, all attempts shall be made to encourage and support local capacity for providing prosthetic and orthotic and mobility services, including evaluations, fabrication, follow up and replacement.
- When possible, attempts shall be made to avoid creating dependence of the local community on the NGO for future follow up, adjustments, replacements, or for additional materials and supplies.
- In order to avoid creating ongoing dependence, when possible, materials will be used which can be found or acquired locally.
- Attempts will be made to assure that existing local service providers are not adversely affected by the organization's activities such as when the organization provides services to recipients who would otherwise be served by local service providers.
- When possible attempts will be made to coordinate efforts, planning, and delivering of services with the local community, with local service providers and with the recipients of the service.
- Though humanitarian assistance responds to emergency needs and may not consider developing local capacity as its primary goal, the organization should, when possible, include development efforts in its programming.
Propuesta de Código de Conducta de ISPO para las Organizaciones
Internacionales No-Gubernamentales vinculadas con Protésica, Ortésica, y Movilidad Asistida
Preparado por Jonathan Batzdorff CPO
Comité de Alcance Internacional, ISPO Estados Unidos
Introducción
El número de organizaciones no-gubernamentales (ONG) ofreciendo prótesis, ortésis, ayudas para de movilidad asistida y asistencia a comunidades en los países en desarrollo es cada vez mayor. La asistencia consiste desde una atención directa, donación de materiales, suministros, prótesis usadas, sillas de ruedas, y zapatos, hasta construir centros de salud y capacitación de profesionales locales. Las ONG ofreciendo ayuda incluyen desde grandes organizaciones hasta un solo profesional.
El Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja, (CICR) reconoció que muchas organizaciones no-gubernamentales dicen ser humanitarias, pero de hecho, "muchas de ellas iniciaron sus operaciones en el campo de acuerdo a normas de ética cuestionables, vagas, o, a veces inexistentes. Como resultado, la integridad de la propia acción humanitaria se vio amenazada." En respuesta a esta preocupación, la Cruz Roja desarrolló el Código de Conducta para la Cruz Roja Internacional y el Movimiento Media Luna Roja y las ONG de Ayuda para Desastres. El Código en general sugiere que la ayuda no debe tener afiliación política o religiosa, que construir y apoyar la capacidad local es valorada mucho más que entregar servicios directos o materiales y que además, con cada esfuerzo se hace todo lo posible para evitar la dependencia.
ISPO, como la organización mundial profesional de protésica, ortésica y movilidad, resulta ser la organización indicada para desarrollar y recomendar un código de conducta específicamente a las organizaciones, grupos o individuos que ofrecen asistencia en prótesis y ortésis. Como el Código de Conducta de la Cruz Roja, el documento ISPO no es para establecer una metodología o procedimientos, sino más bien para codificar las normas éticas de la asistencia de la que estamos de acuerdo como profesión y la que aspiramos alcanzar.
Código de Conducta para actividades Humanitarias No-Gubernamental en Protésica, Ortésica y de Asistencia al Desarrollo Code of Conduct
El siguiente código de conducta se aplica a aquellos que ofrecen servicios protésicos, ortésicos o de ayuda relacionada con la movilidad. Por simplicidad, el término "organización" se utiliza para referirse a cualquier ONG, organización, grupo o individuo que ofrece esa asistencia. El cumplimiento del código es estrictamente voluntario.
Internacionales No-Gubernamentales vinculadas con Protésica, Ortésica, y Movilidad Asistida
Preparado por Jonathan Batzdorff CPO
Comité de Alcance Internacional, ISPO Estados Unidos
Introducción
El número de organizaciones no-gubernamentales (ONG) ofreciendo prótesis, ortésis, ayudas para de movilidad asistida y asistencia a comunidades en los países en desarrollo es cada vez mayor. La asistencia consiste desde una atención directa, donación de materiales, suministros, prótesis usadas, sillas de ruedas, y zapatos, hasta construir centros de salud y capacitación de profesionales locales. Las ONG ofreciendo ayuda incluyen desde grandes organizaciones hasta un solo profesional.
El Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja, (CICR) reconoció que muchas organizaciones no-gubernamentales dicen ser humanitarias, pero de hecho, "muchas de ellas iniciaron sus operaciones en el campo de acuerdo a normas de ética cuestionables, vagas, o, a veces inexistentes. Como resultado, la integridad de la propia acción humanitaria se vio amenazada." En respuesta a esta preocupación, la Cruz Roja desarrolló el Código de Conducta para la Cruz Roja Internacional y el Movimiento Media Luna Roja y las ONG de Ayuda para Desastres. El Código en general sugiere que la ayuda no debe tener afiliación política o religiosa, que construir y apoyar la capacidad local es valorada mucho más que entregar servicios directos o materiales y que además, con cada esfuerzo se hace todo lo posible para evitar la dependencia.
ISPO, como la organización mundial profesional de protésica, ortésica y movilidad, resulta ser la organización indicada para desarrollar y recomendar un código de conducta específicamente a las organizaciones, grupos o individuos que ofrecen asistencia en prótesis y ortésis. Como el Código de Conducta de la Cruz Roja, el documento ISPO no es para establecer una metodología o procedimientos, sino más bien para codificar las normas éticas de la asistencia de la que estamos de acuerdo como profesión y la que aspiramos alcanzar.
Código de Conducta para actividades Humanitarias No-Gubernamental en Protésica, Ortésica y de Asistencia al Desarrollo Code of Conduct
El siguiente código de conducta se aplica a aquellos que ofrecen servicios protésicos, ortésicos o de ayuda relacionada con la movilidad. Por simplicidad, el término "organización" se utiliza para referirse a cualquier ONG, organización, grupo o individuo que ofrece esa asistencia. El cumplimiento del código es estrictamente voluntario.
- La organización que ofrezca servicios protésicos, ortésicos o de asistencia para la movilidad, no debe discriminar por raza, religión, nacionalidad o partido político para la selección de sus proyectos o en la realización de sus operaciones.
- La asistencia no debe requerir de ningún respaldo político, religioso o de comportamiento con el fin de recibir beneficios.
- Las organizaciones de asistencia deberán respetar las costumbres y la cultura de las comunidades que sirven.
- Cuando sea posible, todos los intentos se harán para fomentar y apoyar la capacidad local para proveer servicios protésicos, ortésicos y movilidad asistida, incluyendo las evaluaciones, proceso de fabricación, seguimiento y reparación.
- Cuando sea posible, se procurará evitar la dependencia de la comunidad y la ONG con respecto a futuros ajustes, reparaciones y seguimiento, o para materiales y suministros adicionales.
- Con la finalidad de evitar la continua dependencia, cuando sea posible se utilizarán materiales que puedan ser adquiridos localmente.
- Se procurará asegurar que los proveedores locales de servicios no se vean negativamente afectados por las actividades de la organización, como cuando la organización presta servicios a clientes que podrían ser atendidos por los proveedores locales.
- Cuando sea posibles se harán gestiones para coordinar esfuerzos, la planificación y la entrega de servicios conjuntamente con la comunidad local, los proveedores de servicios locales y con los beneficiarios.
- Aunque la asistencia humanitaria responde a las necesidades de urgencia y puede no considerar el desarrollo de la capacidad local como su principal objetivo, la organización debe, cuando sea posible, incluir las actividades de desarrollo en su planificación.
