Syv prinsipper for det å inneha offentlige verv og posisjoner

 

 

Storbritannia utgir jevnlig en rapport om hvilke standarder som bør gjelde for et sunt, offentlig liv. Tittelen på årets rapport: "Standards matters: A review of best practice in promoting good behaviour in public life" slår fast syv prinsipper som bør gjelde for alle folkevalgte og andre som opptrer i det offentliges tjeneste.

 

Det er all mulig grunn til å adoptere disse prinsippene for norske formål. En ting er at mange av dem følger dikrekte av forvaltningslovgivningen, men det å ha disse prinsippene for generell etterlevelse klart og tydelig foran en, kan være viktige rettesnorer for regjeringsmedlemmer (!) og andre:

 

The seven principles of public life

Principle	Revised description
Preamble	The principles of public life apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the civil service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, NDPBs, and in the health, education, social and care services. All public office-holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also have application to all those in other sectors delivering public services.
Selflessness	Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
Integrity	Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
Objectivity	Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
Accountability	Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
Openness	Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
Honesty	Holders of public office should be truthful.
Leadership	Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.