Session outline two: Ethical and legal conduct Objectives Participants will be familiar with the basic ethical principles and legal requirements derived from the relevant international instruments and applicable to their professional duties. Sources UDHR (preamble, art. 1) Code of Conduct (arts. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8) Principles on Force and Firearms (preamble, principles 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 24, 25 and 26) Standards Human rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person.4 Law enforcement officials shall at all times respect and obey the law.5 Law enforcement officials shall at all times fulfil the duty imposed on them by law, by serving the community and by protecting all persons against illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility required by their profession.6 Law enforcement officials shall not commit any act of corruption. They shall rigorously oppose and combat all such acts.7 Law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons.8 Law enforcement officials shall report violations of those laws, codes and sets of principles which protect and promote human rights.9 All police action shall respect the principles of legality, necessity, non-discrimination, proportionality and humanity. 10 Practice All police officials Enrol in in-service training programmes to gain a better understanding of your legal powers and their limitations. Remember that “obedience to superior orders” may not be invoked to justify serious human rights violations such as unlawful killings and torture. 04 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (hereinafter “UDHR”), preamble and article 1. Code of Conduct, article 1 and article 8. 06 Code of Conduct, article 1. 07 Code of Conduct, article 7. 08 Code of Conduct, article 2. 09 Code of Conduct, article 8; Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (hereinafter “Principles on Force and Firearms”), principles 6, 11(f), 22, 24 and 25. 10 Code of Conduct, articles 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8; Principles on Force and Firearms, preamble and principles 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 and 26. 05 33