sharq.org code of ethics

a list of ethical principles sharq.org aspires to espouse and expects all associates to commit to supporting

associates are asked to read and commit to these principles when joining sharq.org in any capacity. please take the time to review them carefully and if you have any queries feel free to contact us.

sharq.org guiding principals:

1. the work of sharq.org is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people as expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), other related UN declarations and the European Convention on Human Rights and the conventions derived from those declarations; regardless of whether those principals are practiced by the UN and EU member states themselves.
2. sharq.org commits to respect, uphold, and defend each person’s physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual integrity and well-being, whilst working towards promoting pluralism and the best interests of individuals and groups in society and the avoidance of harm.
3. sharq.org commits to challenging othering and oppression on the basis of any identity characteristic, including age, ability, civil status, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender, language, nationality (or lack of), financial means, relationship status, sex, sexual orientation, and spiritual beliefs. those who espouse or promote political beliefs that other or oppress people based on their identity cannot hide behind this commitment.
4. sharq.org intends to ensure as far as possible that its storytellers, collaborators, partners, and all associates act ethically towards one another and have the support necessary to protect and promote each other’s rights and emotional and physical wellbeing.
   
   sharq.org, and all those associated with sharq.org commit to:
5. espousing the principals and appreciating the value of inclusion and pluralism;
6. working and behaving in a trustworthy manner, never seeking to deceive or manipulate a storyteller or any associate, whether for the perceived benefit of sharq.org or otherwise;
7. recognising and respecting the diversity of the communities in which storytellers and all sharq.org associates live and work; considering individual, family, group and community differences; identifying and questioning any prejudices; and appreciating how such prejudices could be experienced as oppressive by other associates;
8. ensuring that all sharq.org associates are treated with compassion as whole individuals; recognising the biological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of each other’s lives; and taking into account their wider social systems such as family, community, societal and natural environments;
9. respecting people’s dignity, bodily autonomy, and right to make their own choices and decisions, insofar as this does not threaten the rights, safety, and legitimate interests of others; 
10. giving every storyteller the right to define their experiences and share their stories in their own words and terms;
11. honouring the right of storytellers to have their life be understood in the context of what they have been through and in the context of their relationships with others;
12. respecting that a storyteller’s trauma, their past actions and their present self and value are distinct from each other and from the experiences and expectations of others;
13. showing compassion for those who have faced hardship and understanding that their individual struggle and process in transitioning from and transforming their pain is a burden that will not be enhanced through judgement;
14. minimising the risk of harm to storytellers and content creators who contribute to the content, intellectual property, or other material published or disseminated by sharq.org;
15. ensuring that all storytellers are fully informed of their rights, whether intellectual property or otherwise, when sharing their story with sharq.org;
16. gaining informed consent from creators who contribute to the content, intellectual property, or other material published or disseminated by sharq.org;
17. protecting the confidentiality and anonymity of storytellers and content contributors who express their desire to remain anonymous;
18. supporting each other’s professional and personal development;
19. ensuring that content published by sharq.org, when factual in nature, is honest, objective, fair;
20. ensuring that their actions do not bring sharq.org and its associates into disrepute;