Code of Ethics
Adopted by the General Assembly in its XIIIrd session in Beijing (China) on 6 September 1996.
Introduction
- A code of ethics for archivists should establish high standards of conduct for the archival profession.
- It should introduce new members of the profession to those standards, remind experienced archivists of their professional responsibilities and inspire public confidence in the profession.
- The term archivists as used in this code is intended to encompass all those concerned with the control, care, custody, preservation and administration of archives.
- Employing institutions and archive services should be encouraged to adopt policies and practices that facilitate the implementation of this code.
- This code is intended to provide an ethical framework for guidance of members of the profession, and not to provide specific solutions to particular problems.
- The principles are all accompanied by a commentary; principles and commentary taken together constitute the Code of Ethics.
- The code is dependent upon the willingness of archival institutions and professional associations to implement it. This may take the form of an educational effort and the establishment of machinery to provide guidance in cases of doubt, to investigate unethical conduct, and if considered appropriate, to apply sanctions.
Code