DECLARATION OF ETHICAL PRINCIPLE

Of the All-Ukrainian Network of permanent Docudays UA Human Rights Media Education Film Clubs

This document was developed by the working group of the NGO Docudays and representatives of the Docudays UA Network of Human Rights Media Education Film Clubs and was adopted in 2017 by the participants of the Conference “Documentary Films as Tools for Human Rights Media Education,” which took place on March 27-28 in Kyiv. The conference participants announced the creation of the All-Ukrainian Network of Docudays UA Film Clubs for Human Rights Media Education (hereinafter referred to as the DOCU/CLUB Network or the Docudays UA Film Club Network).

We, the participants of the VI Conference “Documentary Films as Tools for Human Rights Media Education,” which took place from March 31 to April 3, 2021, hereby make amendments to the document and adopt its a new version. We proclaim this Declaration of Ethical Principles of the DOCU/CLUB Network and declare our intention to adhere to it in our daily activities.

We agree that the DOCU/CLUB Network may comprise the following members: legally established public associations, charitable organizations, educational, cultural, and penitentiary institutions, creative unions, as well as individual artists, civil society leaders, and representatives of educational and cultural spheres who, on the basis of written agreements, cooperate with the NGO Docudays and the Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival to disseminate knowledge about human rights and methods of their protection, form an understanding of human dignity as the highest value in Ukrainian society, and develop civic activism.

An important condition for conclusion of cooperation agreements is the recognition of and adherence to the Declaration of Ethical Principles of the Docudays UA Film Club Network by its members.

The members of the DOCU/CLUB Network are active on the entire territory of Ukraine, including the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the currently uncontrolled territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

We hereby declare our recognition of the mission of the NGO Docudays and the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA, which aims to provide every person in Ukraine with opportunities to watch the most talented and relevant documentary films from all over the world, and promote the development of critical thinking, active citizenship, and appreciation of human dignity as the highest value. By fulfilling our mission, we further the popularization and development of documentary cinema and enhance the understanding, realization, and observance of human rights in Ukraine.

Our mission is to enable person in Ukraine to watch talented and relevant human rights documentaries from around the world. We foster active citizenship and respect for human dignity. We support the development of the Ukrainian film industry.

Our goal is to increase the level of observance and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Ukraine, establish the understanding of human dignity as the highest value in society, increase the level of civic engagement in Ukraine, and promote the development of documentary cinema.

Our vision is to create a society of free people.

Moreover, we declare our intention of partnership with the organizers of the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA: Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union; NGO Docudays; Charitable Organization “Charity and Health Foundation”; and the Center for Contemporary Information Technologies and Visual Arts in accordance with the ethical principles proclaimed in this Declaration.

To this end, the DOCU/CLUB Network carries out the ongoing activities of the Docudays UA human rights media education film clubs; develops and implements informational, educational, and mentoring programs; supports civic human rights initiatives; cooperates with Ukrainian and international public associations, charitable foundations, state and local authorities, educational, cultural, penitentiary institutions, creative unions, documentary filmmakers, etc.

The issues of compliance with the ethical principles of the DOCU/CLUB Network are being discussed during work meetings of representatives of Docudays UA film clubs, which are held routinely with the participation of the management of the NGO Docudays and the Docudays UA Festival Directorate.

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the DOCU/CLUB Network:

Recognizing the values of human dignity, freedom, universality of human rights, the rule of law, a humane society, a democratic state governed by the rule of law, cultural heritage, high art, and consideration of the natural environment;
Reaffirming our commitment to the ideals and principles proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted by the United Nations);
Striving to make our operations more socially recognizable, conscious, responsible and effective;
Hereby proclaim this Declaration of Ethical Principles of the DOCU/CLUB Network and declare our intention to be guided by it in our daily operations.

The members of the DOCU/CLUB Network voluntarily agree with the following main ethical principles of their operations:

· Independence and impartiality;

· Responsibility;

· Professionalism;

· Active human rights and civil position;

· Equality and non-discrimination;

· Non-violence;

· Openness and transparency;

· Tolerance;

· Solidarity and benevolent cooperation;

· Efficient and economical use of resources.

1. THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPLIANCE OF OUR OPERATIONS WITH THE DECLARED PURPOSE, VALUES, AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

1.1 We operate in alignment with the stated mission of the NGO Docudays and the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA, as well as the fundamental values and ethical principles outlined in this Declaration.

2. THE PRINCIPLE OF INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY

2.1. In our interactions with state, political, municipal, and commercial entities, as well as with mass media, educational, cultural, penitentiary institutions, other public associations, and charitable organizations (local, national and foreign), we avoid dependency on them, particularly when such dependency poses a threat to human rights, fundamental freedoms, or the declared purpose, values and ethical principles of the DOCU/CLUB Network.

2.2. We remain independent of public opinion stereotypes, particularly when they contradict our declared values.

2.3. We neither support nor endorse any political party, political bloc, political or state leader, or religious organization. Political and religious preferences are personal matters for each individual participating in the activities of the DOCU/CLUB Network.

3. THE PRINCIPLE OF RESPONSIBILITY

3.1. We are aware of our obligation to respect copyright, maintain a responsible attitude toward our duties, strive to fulfill our mutual obligations, and adhere to both written and verbal agreements, particularly those concluded with NGO Docudays.

4. THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPETENCE

4.1 We constantly strive for self-improvement and the achievement of the highest quality standards, and we consciously promote documentary filmmaking of high artistic value.

5. THE PRINCIPLE OF ACTIVE CIVIC AND HUMAN RIGHTS POSITION

5.1. In our activities, we endeavor to uphold an active civic and human rights stance through legal and non-violent means.

6. THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION

6.1. We respect human rights and fundamental freedoms regardless of race, skin color, citizenship, ethnic or social origin, property or other status, position, occupation, place of residence, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, political beliefs, or other convictions.

7. THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-VIOLENCE

7.1. We do not promote or use violent actions in our operations.

8. THE PRINCIPLE OF OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY

8.1. Information about the mission, values, goals, principles, and results of activities of the DOCU/CLUB Network and its members is open to the public.

8.2. We welcome cooperation and the inclusion of representatives from other civic, charitable organizations, creative unions, as well as individuals who share the purpose, values and ethical principles of the DOCU/CLUB Network and are committed to adherence to them in their operations.

8.3. The DOCU/CLUB Network and its members regularly publish reports on their activities.

9. THE PRINCIPLE OF TOLERANCE

9.1. We respect the differences in the thinking and creativity of our partners, as well as in the perception of works of documentary film art, provided they do not contradict international human rights standards, the mission, and the goals of the NGO Docudays and the Docudays UA festival.

9.2. We avoid actions that would compromise the partners who cooperate within the Docudays UA Film Club Network.

10. THE PRINCIPLE OF SOLIDARITY AND BENEVOLENT COOPERATION

10.1. We act in the spirit of solidarity and benevolence. Each member of the DOCU/CLUB Network works to enhance its positive reputation, as well as the reputation of its partners, colleagues, and the festival as a whole, in order to realize the mission and achieve the goals of the NGO Docudays and the Docudays UA festival.

10.2. We strive to cooperate on the basis of trust, respect, and mutual assistance.

10.3. In the event of conflicts between the members of the DOCU/CLUB Network, we are guided by the ethical principles proclaimed in this Declaration and strive to resolve conflicts through dialogue and mutual understanding within the Network, so as not to damage its reputation.

11. THE PRINCIPLE OF EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL USE OF RESOURCES

11.1. We strive to use financial, material, human, and natural resources as efficiently and economically as possible, directing them primarily toward the achievement of our goals.