The mission of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care is “to expand access to and improve the quality of prevention, care, and treatment services provided to people affected by and living with HIV and its co-morbid conditions.”

Preamble

Members and donors support the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) because they trust the association to carry out its mission, to be a good steward of its resources, and to uphold rigorous standards of conduct. As a not-for-profit association, IAPAC must earn this trust every day and in every possible way. In order to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the core values of integrity, honesty, fairness, openness, respect, and responsibility, IAPAC has adopted the following “Statement of Values and Code of Ethics.”

Statement of Values

Founded in 1987, the Physicians Association for AIDS Care (PAAC) was the first not-for-profit association to rally the health professions at a time when HIV treatment options were limited. In 1995, a year prior to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), PAAC expanded its U.S.-centric geographic focus to one inclusive of all regions of the world. That same year, the association was renamed the “International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care.” The association was again re-named in 2012 to the “International Association of Providers of AIDS Care” in an attempt to reflect the variety of clinicians and lay-providers engaged in the global battle against HIV/AIDS.

The foundation upon which IAPAC is built includes widely shared values, specifically:

  • Commitment to our mission;
  • Confidentiality and empowerment through self-determination;
  • Respect for the worth and dignity of all individuals;
  • Accountability to all stakeholders;
  • Inclusiveness and social justice;
  • Respect for pluralism and diversity;
  • Transparency, integrity, and honesty;
  • Responsible stewardship of human and financial resources; and
  • Commitment to excellence and to maintaining the public trust.

These values lead directly to IAPAC’s Code of Ethics (articulated below), and they inform and guide the way the IAPAC Board of Trustees and Staff members should perform their responsibilities when acting on behalf of the association.

 

Code of Ethics

I. Personal and Professional Integrity

All Trustees and Staff members of IAPAC act with honesty, integrity, and openness in all their dealings as representatives of the association. IAPAC promotes a working environment that values respect, fairness, and integrity. Trustees and Staff members put the needs of the association in front of personal gain and interest, and dedicate themselves to advancing the IAPAC mission.

II. Mission Statement

IAPAC has a clearly stated mission, approved by the Board of Trustees, in pursuit of the public good, and responsive to the constituency and communities served by the association. Its mission is to expand access to and improve the quality of prevention, care, and treatment services provided to people affected by and living with HIV and its co-morbid conditions.

IAPAC’s programs support this mission. All individuals who work for or on behalf of the association understand and are loyal to the IAPAC mission, and committed to reflecting the association’s values in the fulfillment of IAPAC-related activities.

III. Governance and Oversight

In partnership with the association’s President/CEO, the IAPAC Board of Trustees is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the association and has oversight of its finances, operations, and policies. The Board of Trustees ensures that:

  • Trustees fulfill their governance duties acting for the benefit of IAPAC;
  • IAPAC conducts all transactions and dealings with integrity and honesty;
  • IAPAC forges working relationships based upon mutual respect, fairness, and openness;
  • IAPAC is fair and inclusive in its hiring and promotion policies and practices;
  • IAPAC’s policies are in writing, clearly articulated, and officially adopted;
  • IAPAC’s resources are responsibly and prudently managed; and,
  • IAPAC has the capacity to carry out its programs effectively.

IV. Legal Compliance

IAPAC is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

V. Responsible Stewardship

IAPAC manages its funds responsibly and prudently. The association operate only in ways that are consistent with its mission, strategic vision, and values; its respect for donors; and its goal of improving the lives of people affected by and living with HIV and its co-morbid conditions.

Our stewardship includes the following considerations:

  • We invest an adequate amount on administrative needs to ensure effective accounting systems, internal controls, competent Staff members, and other expenditures critical to the professional management of the association;
  • We compensate Staff members and contractors reasonably and appropriately;
  • We recognize the variety of factors that affect fundraising costs;
  • We do not accumulate operating funds excessively;
  • We ensure that spending practices and policies are fair, reasonable, and appropriate; and

VI. Openness and Disclosure

IAPAC provides comprehensive and timely information to the public, the media, and all stakeholders and is responsive in a timely manner to reasonable requests for information. All information about IAPAC will fully and honestly reflect the policies and practices of the association. All solicitation materials accurately represent IAPAC’s policies and practices and will respect the dignity of program beneficiaries. All financial, organizational, and program reports will be complete and accurate in all material respects.

VII. Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement

IAPAC continuously monitors program effectiveness and has mechanisms to incorporate lessons learned into future programs. Staff members are committed to improving program and organizational effectiveness and will promote learning from IAPAC’s activities and from the field. The association is responsive to changes in the field and is responsive to the needs of its myriad constituencies.

VIII. Inclusiveness and Diversity

IAPAC has a policy of promoting inclusiveness. Its Board of Trustees and Staff members reflect diversity in order to enrich the association’s programmatic effectiveness. IAPAC takes meaningful steps to promote inclusiveness in our hiring, retention, and promotion.

IX. Fundraising

IAPAC is truthful in its solicitation materials. The association respects the privacy concerns of individual donors and expends funds consistent with donor intent. IAPAC discloses important and relevant information to potential donors.

In raising funds from public and private sources, IAPAC will respect the rights of donors:

  • To be informed of the mission of the association, the way in which resources will be used, and its capacity to use contributions effectively for their intended purposes;
  • To be informed of the identity of those serving on the association’s Board of Trustees and to expect the Board of Trustees to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities;
  • To be assured their contributions will be used for the purposes for which they were given;
  • To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition on a timely basis;
  • To be assured that information about their contributions is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by the law;
  • To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature;
  • To be informed whether those seeking contributions are employees of the association or hired solicitors;
  • To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that the association may intend to share; and
  • To feel free to ask questions when making a contribution and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.

 

Conclusion

This “Statement of Values and Code of Ethics” neither contains IAPAC policies or procedures nor does it include details regarding such policies and procedures. Rather, it sets forth the fundamental principles for conducting all aspects of the association’s business.

Detailed policies and procedures for conducting IAPAC business are contained in the:

  • Corporate Bylaws;
  • Employee Policy Manual;
  • Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual; and
  • Other instructions and directions applicable to particular job functions.

IAPAC reserves the right to amend the “Statement of Values and Code of Ethics,” as deemed appropriate by its Board of Trustees and in consultation with its President/CEO on behalf of its Staff members.

 

Ratified and Adopted: September 30, 2005

Amended and Reaffirmed: May 25, 2006

Amended and Reaffirmed: January 1, 2014