Sample Template for Ethical Advocacy Practice
To develop a Statement of Ethics for your Advocacy Practice, it is important to first identify
the values of your organization/tribe/project. Incorporating the identified values and putting them
into practice in the Code of Ethics will enable your project to stand for what is most important,
according to your definition of what will be done.
The term “Advocacy Practice” is used as a reminder that Advocacy is a discipline like any
other helping profession, such as a medical or legal practice. The Practice of Advocacy has its
own focus, viewpoint and objectives to be honored and followed in order for there to be a strong
voice for the victims of domestic and sexual violence. The primary imperative of an Advocacy
Practice is that it is the only discipline that represents the wants, needs and issues of victims, over
all other concerns or objectives. The Victim Advocate does not practice alone but requires the
support and assistance of other disciplines such as law enforcement, judicial, prosecutorial, social
work, medical and legal professions. However, the advocate, while cultivating these support
systems and networks, must also separate the need for support versus the inherent need for
challenging others on behalf of the victim. With that in mind, we offer this template for creating
a Code of Ethics to guide an Advocacy Practice to be effective for victims of domestic and sexual
violence.
INSERT NAME OF PROJECT/TRIBE/ORGANIZATION HERE
INSERT ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
AS ADOPTED BY _____ IDENTIFY POLICY BODY APPROVING THESE GUIDELINES
(EXAMPLE—TRIBAL COUNCIL, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ETC.)
CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE ______ TRIBE’S ADVOCACY PRACTICE
Victims of domestic and sexual violence deserve to be treated with respect, integrity
and compassion at all times. It is the duty of the Victim Advocate to speak on behalf of and
for the victim of domestic and sexual violence exclusively, above all other concerns or
objectives.
I.
In relationship with every victim/survivor of domestic or sexual violence, the
Victim Advocate shall:
a. Hold forth the stated interests of the victim, above those of any other involved
person(s), as their primary responsibility and without regard to the personal
convictions or beliefs held by the Advocate.
b. Provide guidance and information regarding safety planning for the
individual, their children/family, and any public events the individual may
attend.
c. Accept the victim/survivor’s statement of the events as presented,
withholding opinion or judgment, whether or not a suspected offender has
been identified, arrested, convicted or acquitted.
d. Provide support and offer services as needed by the individual without
attributing blame, no matter what the client’s conduct was at the time of the
victimization or at another stage of the client’s life.
e. Respect and protect civil and legal rights of the victim/survivor.
f. Embrace the need for absolute privacy and confidentiality, subject only to the
laws that require the Victim Advocate to disclose information.
g. Assure fairness and objectivity by referring individuals in crisis to another
qualified Victim Advocate if a conflict exists.
h. Follow the ethical imperative to refrain from sexual relations with
victim/survivors, past and present, and any family members. To do so may be
exploitative and disrespectful of the individual in crisis. This behavior will
erode the trust relationship of the victim/survivor and the Victim Advocate.
i. Make referrals in the best interest of the individual and without any conflict
of interest or gain on the part of the Victim Advocate or the organization.
j. Assure safety by utilizing national or regional networks of safe spaces for
referrals and placement of individuals at risk of assault.
II.
In relationship with co-workers, other agency personnel and the public, the
Victim Advocate shall:
a. Interact with colleagues in such a way as to promote mutual respect, advance
respect for the practice of advocacy and to improve services for domestic and
sexual violence victims.
b. Refrain from criticism, especially when there is no evidence or justification
for the behavior of the colleague.
c. Offer equal respect and dignity for other disciplines working to assist victims
of domestic and sexual violence.
d. Work with colleagues to educate about the complexities inherent in crimes of
domestic and sexual violence.
e. Conduct behavior in such a manner as to promote consistent quality of
services and safe space for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
f. Uphold the laws/codes of the jurisdiction while working to change those
presenting unfair barriers or obligations upon victims of domestic and sexual
violence.
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III.
In the conduct of his/her discipline of providing Victim Advocacy, the Victim
Advocate shall:
a. Maintain high personal and professional standards of behavior in their work
with victims and domestic and sexual violence, as well as in their private and
personal life.
b. Not discriminate against any one individual based on age, gender, disability,
ethnicity, race, national origin, religious belief or sexual orientation.
c. Not reveal the name or other identifying information about the client to the public
without clear permission or legal requirements to do so.
d. Clearly distinguish any opinions or statements as from the individual and not
from the tribe/organization/project.
e. Not use position to secure gifts, monetary rewards or special privileges or
advantages.
f. Report any mistreatment of a crime victim to appropriate authorities as
allowed by confidentiality guidelines and with the written permission of the
individual harmed.
g. Report any conduct unbecoming or having negative impact on the integrity of
the tribe/organization/project to proper authorities.
IV.
The Victim Advocate will be bound by the ethical standards of their allied
profession of when she or he is a member, as well as the conduct described in this
statement of ethical conduct.
By signing this Code of Ethics, I am in agreement with the above statements and will
conduct my behavior to the best of my ability according to those standards.
Signature
Adopted (insert date)
Date
(insert tribe/organization/project name here)
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