Code of Conduct for External Parties

At Vector Volunteer Services Ltd. (VVS), external parties play a critical role in achieving our mission to empower humanitarian volunteers. While you remain an independent contractor and not an employee of VVS, we expect all members of our extended team to uphold the same high standards of conduct and integrity.

This Code applies to all activities undertaken while engaged by VVS and in any context where your actions could reflect on VVS’s reputation or operations.

1. Respect for Humanitarian Principles

  • Treat all individuals with dignity and respect.

  • Do not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, sexual orientation, disability, age, socio-economic status, or political beliefs.

  • Do not engage in or tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, abuse of authority, or violence in any professional setting.

2. Integrity, Independence, and Impartiality

  • Conduct your work honestly, fairly, and professionally, in a manner that reflects positively on VVS.

  • Maintain independence and avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest.

  • Do not speak publicly on behalf of VVS unless specifically authorized to do so.

3. Private Legal Obligations

  • Uphold all applicable laws. Acts such as theft, fraud, smuggling, or substance abuse (including driving under the influence) are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate termination of your engagement with VVS.

4. Prohibited Conduct

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

  • Sexual activity with minors (under 18) is strictly prohibited.

  • The exchange of money, goods, or services for sexual favors is unacceptable.

  • All Adjunct Team Members are expected to prevent, oppose, and report any forms of sexual exploitation or abuse.

Harassment

  • Any form of harassment, whether verbal, physical, or online, is not tolerated.

  • This includes unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature or conduct that creates a hostile or offensive environment.

Abuse of Authority or Position

  • Do not use your role at VVS to pressure, intimidate, or take unfair advantage of others.

  • Avoid using VVS resources or information for personal benefit or to harm others.

5. Confidentiality

  • Keep confidential all proprietary, sensitive, or personal information you receive through your engagement with VVS.

  • This obligation continues even after your services with VVS have ended.

6. Outside Activities

  • Avoid any external activity—paid or unpaid—that may conflict with your role, compromise your impartiality, or breach VVS’s confidentiality or humanitarian principles.

  • You must obtain VVS’s written consent before accepting engagements that may overlap or interfere with your VVS-related activities.

7. Standards of Care

  • Act in good faith, exercising due care and professionalism in all engagements.

  • Safeguard all VVS resources and materials you have access to, and return or delete them as instructed upon the end of your assignment.

8. Reporting Misconduct

  • Report any suspected breaches of this Code to the designated VVS contact.

  • Retaliation against those who report concerns in good faith is strictly prohibited.

  • Making false accusations or deliberately spreading misinformation will be treated as a serious breach of conduct.

Note: Breaches of this Code may lead to termination of your engagement and disqualification from future assignments with VVS.

If you have any questions or require clarification, please speak with your VVS point of contact.