The heads of 11 of the world's leading human rights, environmental and social development international organisations have today publicly endorsed the first global accountability charter for the non-profit sector.

International NGOs play an increasingly influential role. Global public opinion surveys show higher trust in NGOs than in government and business. In addition to an internal desire to be transparent and accountable, the Accountability Charter also seeks to demonstrate that NGOs deeply value public trust, do not take it for granted and are committed to sustaining and deepening that trust. This initiative comes at a time when the non-profit sector is coming under closer scrutiny, both from those who want it to flourish and those who seek to curtail NGO activities.

ActionAid International, Amnesty International, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Consumers International, Greenpeace International, Oxfam International, the International Save the Children Alliance, Survival International, International Federation Terre des Hommes, Transparency International and World YWCA today endorsed the first international, cross-sectoral code of conduct for NGOs.

In an unprecedented step, international civil society organisations have come together to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability. This initiative builds on the individual, national and sectoral initiatives taken by international NGOs to set standards of accountability and codes of conduct. Although NGOs are subject to national regulations within the countries in which they operate, the International Non-Governmental Organisations Accountability Charter is the first such initiative to set out international, cross-sector standards for the non-profit sector.

Read the charter in PDF format