ODIHR presents new study on professional and ethical standards for parliamentarians

A new study highlighting the value of parliamentary codes of conduct in promoting professional and ethical standards for parliamentarians was presented by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at a conference in Vienna on 25 January 2013.

The study, “Professional and Ethical Standards for Parliamentarians”, provides a comparative analysis of the practical measures OSCE participating States can take to promote ethical behaviour among politicians.  

“Standards on parliamentary behaviour and ethics help promote the political credibility of democratic systems by fostering public trust,” said Nathalie Tagwerker, Deputy Head of ODIHR’s Democratization Department. “Moreover, the establishment of and adherence to standards of ethics seeks to maintain a culture of democratic public service that favours the public interest over private gain.”

The presentation was followed by a discussion organized by the Bürgerforum Europa 2020 and the Go-Governance Initiative, which brought together Austrian political stakeholders and representatives from civil society, the media and academia to highlight the objectives, challenges and good practices in developing standards of professional and ethical behaviour for politicians.

“The regulatory reform of parliamentary codes of ethics should be carried out in an inclusive, transparent and consultative manner,” said Melanie Sully, the head of the Go-Governance Initiative.

ODIHR’s study will be presented in other OSCE participating States, providing a tool for parliamentarians, civil society and academic experts on good practices for developing and reforming professional and ethical standards in parliaments.

The publication is available both online, and in print.