JOICFP Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct
１）

Introduction

1. JOICFP is committed, in accordance with its Vision, Mission and Core Values,
to a human rights framework which prohibits any discrimination, exclusion or
restriction on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity
or expression, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, culture or belief,
partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, health condition or
any other analogous personal status.
2. In keeping with its Vision, Mission and Core Values, JOICFP is committed tomaintaining the highest degree of ethical conduct amongst all Board members,employees (whether temporary, fixed-term, or permanent), interns, volunteers
and partners/partner organizations/institutions and their staff working withJOICFP, regardless of their location in Japan or abroad. To help increase
understanding, this Code of Conduct sets out the guiding principles and values
applicable first of all to ourselves and to all involved in our work, and details
what JOICFP aims at. These guiding principles and values need to be
implemented through the relevant regional and local policies and procedures.
3. Whilst recognizing that local laws and cultures may differ from one country toanother,

JOICFPisaninternationallyoperated

non-governmentalorganization, and therefore the Code of Conduct is based on international
human rights standards. Its Board members, employees (whether temporary,fixed-term, or permanent), interns, volunteers and partners/partnerorganizations/ institutions and their staff working with JOICFP are expected
to uphold local law wherever they operate, except where the Code of Conduct
is more stringent, in which case the Code applies.
２）

Vision and Mission

JOICFP is inspired by a vision of a world in which the basic human needs ofindividuals, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are
met, and people enjoy good health and fulfill their potential based on dignity1and equality.
JOICFP’s mission is to create a society where everyone can realize theirpotential, by enabling each individual, especially women in developing
countries, to make their own choices regarding sexual and reproductive healthand rights (SRHR) through ensuring access to quality services andcomprehensive information.
３）Guiding Principles
1. Compliance with Laws
As a public interest incorporated Foundation certified by the Cabinet Office ofJapan with its financial basis depending on resources from the government,
multilateral frameworks, foundations, private companies, and individuals,
JOICFP is committed to observe the Act on General Incorporated Associationsand General Incorporated Foundations, Act on Authorization of Public
Interest

Incorporated Associations and Public Interest

IncorporatedFoundations, and any other related acts. JOICFP shall designate responsible
people to ensure compliance with the above stated laws, as well as to devise
internal regulations or educational manuals, if necessary, and to promote themthroughout the organization. Respecting and adhering to social rules and inaccordance with laws and regulations is also essential.
２．Respect for Human Rights
Human rights are fundamental, universal, and indivisible rights inherent toeveryone. JOICFP is committed to respect the rights of internal and external
stakeholders and act against the direct and indirect violation of human rights.
JOICFP shall also establish an organizational culture that eliminates
discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, culture, nationality, social
status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age,disability, or health condition. In addition, JOICFP shall create an internalmonitoring system to prohibit child labor, labor under unreasonable working
conditions (e.g., forced labor), and harassment. Regardless of the level ofdevelopment, in the countries, the societies, and communities, human rights
can be unconsciously abused, owing to the lack of a proper legal infrastructure
and/or the lack of understanding of laws and human rights itself. When2implementing activities especially overseas, careful attention needs to be paid
to the infringement of human rights in their local partners/partnerorganizations/ institutions and suppliers. We shall set the whistle-blowing
system in the early detection and solving of illegal acts and human rights
violations, such as sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) as wellas power harassment.
３．Safeguarding
JOICFP Board members, employees (whether temporary, fixed-term, orpermanent),

interns,

volunteers

andpartners/partnerorganizations/institutions and their staff working with JOICFP are required to not engage inabusive or exploitative conduct such as in sexual activity with children (persons
under the age of 18), any sexual relationships, sexual exploitation/abuse, sexual
harassment with beneficiaries of assistance, any exploitative activities withchildren, youth or vulnerable adults including those that are commercial suchas child labor or trafficking, physically assaulting a child, youth or vulnerable
adult, and emotionally or psychologically abusing a child, youth or vulnerable
adult. To observe strictly the above-mentioned safeguarding policies, JOICFPBoard members, employees (whether temporary, fixed-term, or permanent),interns, volunteers and partners/partner organizations/institutions and theirstaff working with JOICFP are asked to implement the policy on Preventing
Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) set out by JOICFP inaccordance with the global standard as well as periodic review of thesafeguarding policies. In addition to the safeguarding policies set hereof,JOICFP Board members, employees, interns, volunteers and partners/partnerorganizations/institutions and their staff working with JOICFP shall alsoobserve the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief
Prepared jointly by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies and the ICRC when engaging in humanitarian assistance.
４．Fraud Prevention
As a public interest incorporated Foundation certified by the Cabinet Officeof Japan with its financial basis depending on resources from the government,3

multilateral frameworks, foundations, private companies, and individuals,
JOICFP is committed to conducting all its non-profit activities in an ethicaland honest manner by displaying the characteristics of transparency, clarity,and accuracy, and implementing and reinforcing systems that prevent bribery
and/or any kind of corruption. JOICFP has zero-tolerance of fraud andcorruption which are ever-present threats to our assets and reputation, and werequire every personnel who works and/or who are related JOICFP’s work toalways act honestly and with integrity, and to safeguard the assets for which
they are responsible.
JOICFP takes its legal responsibilities seriously and is committed to preventing
any kind of bribery and/or corruption so that financial resources allocated toprojects/programs are maximized and sexual and reproductive health andrights (SRHR) are promoted for all. JOICFP also acts professionally, fairly, andwith integrity in all dealings and relationships, whether domestically or abroad.
5. Safety, Health and Welfare
To ensure the safety, health and welfare of all JOICFP Board members,
employees(whethertemporary,fixed-term,orpermanent),

interns,volunteers, they are required to adhere to all legal and organizational healthand safety requirements in force at the location of their work and comply withany local security guidelines and be pro-active in informing JOICFP of any
necessary changes to such guidelines. They should also behave in a mannersuch as to avoid any unnecessary risk to the safety, health and welfare ofthemselves and others, including partner organizations and communities withwhom JOICFP works. JOICFP Board members, employees, interns, volunteers
should also be responsible with social media accounts and, when using photos
obtained during JOICFP work, always gain informed consent and preserve theprivacy and dignity of all individuals, ensuring that they are not exposed to risk
from the use of their image.
JOICFP Board members, employees, interns, volunteers should not behave inany way which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or
creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive working
environment for that individual.

4

６． Accountability to stakeholders
As a public interest incorporated Foundation, JOICFP is committed to betransparent and accountable in our dealings with the government, community,
donors and other interested parties.
To ensure establishing a trustworthy relationship with its supporters, JOICFP
shall engage in fair and transparent management which calls for properaccounting procedures and an accurate and credible financial system.
Furthermore, it is vital to be accountable to supporters through regular
reporting that includes annual report and JOICFP information channels suchas websiteetc. JOICFP shall also engage in precise information ofmanagement of personal data of our supporters, especially that of theindividual supporters, based on the Information Protection Law.
７． Enforcement
The respective management of JOICFP Secretariat has a responsibility toensure that all staff understand and adhere to this Code of Conduct. The Codeof Conduct forms part of all contracts of employment. Breaches of the Code ofConduct by JOICFP employees (whether temporary, fixed-term, orpermanent) are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal
depending on the level of violation. This Code of Conduct is also applicable toJOICFP Board members, short-term contract employees, consultants, interns,volunteers, and any other personnel who are involved in JOICFP business.
Breaches of the Code of Conduct may result in the termination of contracts orBoard members, interns, and volunteer roles. Failure of a partners/partnerorganizations/institutions to implement and monitor the implementation ofthis Code of Conduct may result in the termination of partnership and contract.

This Code of Conduct came into effect on May 11, 2022, by the Resolution ofthe Board of Directors.

5