Academia Panamericana de Ingeniería
Academia Pan-Americana de Engenharia
Pan American Academy of Engineering
FORUM
ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN
PROVIDING ENGINEERING SERVICES
Atlanta , September 19-20, 2006
DECLARATION OF ATLANTA
Prepared by the Rapporteurs with the consensus of the participants in the Policy Forum
Summoned by the Pan American Academy of Engineering to participate in the Policy Forum on the topic of “Ethics and Integrity in the Providing of Engineering Services", in Atlanta , Georgia with the sponsorship of the:
Pan American Federation of Engineering Societies (UPADI),National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE),
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
The ACADEMY has adopted the following DECLARATION in this matter for the advice and guidance of the MEMBERS of the ACADEMY and other professional engineers of the Americas .
Whereas
- The increasing integration of many engineering functions world-wide, and especially in the Americas , is demonstrated by clear trends toward an increasing interre1ationship among all of our nations;
- *The practice of Engineering is a privilege, as opposed to a right. This privilege carries a significant obligation to adhere to recognized standards of practice related to the safeguarding of life, health, property, and welfare of the public we the engineers serve.
- *All engineers play a special role in our society by using honestly and impartially, their knowledge and skills to advance human welfare, through serving with fidelity the public, their employers, and their clients.
- *All countries of the Americas are committed to sustainable deve1opment, the protection of our environment, capacity building, economic development, and betterment of the human condition.
- *It is the policy of the Pan American Academy of Engineering, that its Members be involved in a wide and decisive manner, in achieving the validity of Ethics and Integrity in engineering services and construction contracts through sound engineering practice.
We recognize the following time-tested and proven fundamental principles:
• To avoid deceptive acts and act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption;
• To strive to increase individual competence and act in a manner so as to uphold the honor and dignity of the profession;
• To adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct, fairness, openness, competence, and accountability;
• To validate ethics and integrity in engineering services and construction contracts in all countries of the world;
• To be honest and impartial, and to serve with fidelity the public, employers, and clients; and
• To use engineering knowledge and skills for the enhancement of human welfare and protection of the environment.
And therefore the Pan American Academy of Engineers and its members DECLARE that they commit to:
• Fostering ethical professional practice with social responsibility, promoting the diffusion and adoption of transparent acts in all tenders and contracts on providing engineering and construction services.
• Act with determination to prevent, dissuade, and in necessary cases to denounce acts of bribery, extortion, fraud, and/or any other form of corruption.
• Work to adopt within their countries, a Code of Ethics prepared with the concept of zero-tolerance for bribery and corruption, and to support the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption.
• Build their professional reputation on the merit of services rendered in a fair, open, and transparent manner.
• Acknowledge and act on reports of unethical behavior and practice of individuals and members of business entities.
• Support ethical sustainable development in all countries of this Continent
• Reject unethical acts by governments and their agents that force engineering firms and their officers to act contrary to the engineering Code of Ethics.
• Seek to enhance the ethical competencies of future engineers through continuous and coordinated endeavors of the Engineering Organizations and the Educational Institutions so that during the formation period they have the opportunity of building a solid base of ethical principles with the capability and willingness to perceive, prevent and dissuade future acts of bribery and corruption.
• Enhance Engineering Education programs within their respective countries and promote permanent efforts for the evaluation and their Quality Assurance with the purpose of providing professional services of the highest level attainable.
• Cooperate with various agencies, societies, and associations, in the further development of engineering Codes of Ethics, and to participate in consultations with leadership groups to develop strategies that integrate anti-corruption and transparency policies in all areas of engineering activity.
Adopted, September 20, 2006 in the City of ATLANTA
Ing. Miguel Angel Yadarola President , Ing. Ernesto BendingerSecretary
Rapporteurs:
• José I. Guerra , P.E., F.NSPE, API
• Reginald Vachon, Ph.D., P.E., API
• Vladimir Yackovlev , Ph.D., API
• Patrick J. Natale, P.E., ASCE, Executive Director
• Luis Carlos Scavarda, Ph.D., API
