Charter of Ethics & Integrity
World Order Lab is a strictly nonpartisan and nonprofit youth think-tank dedicated to advancing rigorous analysis and producing high-impact insights on the world’s most pressing security and governance challenges, with a particular focus on their implications for Southeast Asia.
We are committed to the highest standards of independence, integrity, impartiality, inclusivity, academic rigor, professionalism, and accountability. These principles underpin our institutional credibility and independence and are enshrined in the World Order Lab Charter of Ethics & Integrity set out hereinbelow. All members and individuals acting on behalf of World Order Lab are bound by this Charter and must uphold its principles throughout their affiliation with the organization.
1. Nonpartisanship and Independence from Outside Interests
World Order Lab maintains a strict commitment to nonpartisanship and institutional independence. Our research, publications, events, engagements, and organizational decisions are guided by evidence, analytical rigor, and the pursuit of informed public understanding rather than partisan loyalties, private interests, or external influence.
Members of World Order Lab respect diverse political, academic, cultural, and professional perspectives and do not represent World Order Lab as endorsing any political party, candidate, government, corporation, or ideological position without explicit institutional authorization. We distinguish our personal opinions and activities from the organization’s official positions and do not use its name, resources, or affiliation to advance undisclosed interests or imply unauthorized endorsement.
World Order Lab does not act as a lobbying organization or represent the interests of any government, political party, corporation, private entity, or external sponsor. Our research may examine, assess, and criticize the policies and conduct of public and private actors where warranted by evidence. Such analysis does not constitute an institutional endorsement of a political faction or an external party. We preserve our independence regardless of whether our findings support, challenge, or contradict the positions of influential stakeholders.
Importantly, our nonpartisanship does not mean avoiding controversial issues, remaining neutral between well-supported evidence and demonstrably false claims, or refraining from evaluating the consequences of public policy. It means approaching these questions without allegiance to a political party or predetermined ideological position. We recognize that complex security and governance challenges rarely have simple solutions. Our responsibility is therefore to examine problems from multiple perspectives, distinguish empirical findings from personal judgments, and present our conclusions with intellectual honesty.
Constructive engagement is essential to producing relevant and practical policy analysis. We seek to engage constructively with governments, diplomatic communities, international and regional organizations, think-tanks, academic institutions, civil societies, youth organizations, private sectors, and other relevant stakeholders on matters concerning Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, such engagement does not constitute endorsement. Our participation in a partnership, event, consultation, or research initiative does not imply agreement with every position held by the individuals or institutions involved. We remain responsible for our own analysis and must safeguard its integrity against undue influence.
2. Zero Tolerance for Discrimination and Harassment
World Order Lab maintains zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, threats, humiliation, sexual harassment, hate speech, abuse, or any other conduct that undermines the dignity, safety, or equal participation of its members and stakeholders. Likewise, our members are strictly prohibited from engaging in discrimination, or any unfair or degrading treatment, based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, nationality, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law or inconsistent with our commitment to equal treatment.
Harassment includes unwelcome conduct that intimidates, humiliates, threatens, demeans, or creates a hostile or degrading environment for another person. It may be verbal, physical, written, visual, digital, or relational. Examples include repeated unwanted contact, targeted insults, discriminatory remarks, sexual advances, threats of violence, deliberate exclusion intended to intimidate, the malicious circulation of private information, and the misuse of professional authority to pressure, humiliate, or exploit another person.
Furthermore, we do not tolerate the use of seniority, academic standing, nationality, institutional affiliation, professional experience, or personal background to justify discriminatory treatment or the abuse of authority. Those of us in Executive and Senior Leadership positions have a particular responsibility to model respectful conduct, prevent the misuse of power, and ensure that organizational opportunities are not conditioned on personal loyalty, conformity, or tolerance of inappropriate behavior.
These standards apply to all activities connected to World Order Lab, including our meetings, research projects, recruitment processes, internal communications, online platforms, conferences, professional engagements, social events, and interactions with external stakeholders. Conduct outside formal organizational activities also fall within the scope of this policy when it is sufficiently connected to a member’s role, affiliation, or participation in our organization.
3. Transparency and Management of External Affiliations
World Order Lab recognizes that our members may maintain concurrent employment, academic appointments, professional engagements, research commitments, organizational memberships, and other external affiliations. These relationships are not inherently incompatible with membership in World Order Lab. However, we expect all external commitments to be managed transparently to ensure that they do not compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, our members’ independence, judgment, responsibilities, or obligations to our organization.
Members of World Order Lab have disclosed any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest upon appointment. Such conflicts may involve financial interests, outside employment, advisory roles, organizational affiliations, research funding, contractual obligations, personal relationships, close professional associations, or other commitments that may influence, or appear to influence, their decisions or conduct.
An actual conflict of interest exists when competing interests directly interfere with a member’s responsibilities. A potential conflict of interest arises when circumstances could develop into such interference. A perceived conflict of interest exists when a reasonable observer might question a member’s impartiality or independence, even when the member believes their judgment remains unaffected.
World Order Lab handles conflict-of-interest disclosures discreetly and share them only with those who reasonably need the information to assess or manage the issue, subject to applicable law and legitimate organizational requirements. Disclosure does not automatically imply wrongdoing or require the termination of an external affiliation. Rather, we view transparency as essential to preserving impartiality and confidence in the integrity of our work.
We apply these requirements consistently, regardless of a member’s seniority, contributions, reputation, or personal relationships with members of the Executive or Senior Leadership. Under no circumstances do we permit preferential treatment in the assessment or management of conflicts of interest.
4. Accountability, Respect, and Professional Conduct
World Order Lab is committed to treating our colleagues, fellow members, appointees, applicants, contributors, researchers, partners, guests, and external stakeholders with dignity, fairness, honesty, and respect. We expect everyone affiliated with World Order Lab to conduct themselves in accordance with their responsibilities and the professional standards of our organization.
We expect our members to demonstrate professionalism in their communications, research, meetings, collaborations, and external engagements. This includes fulfilling agreed responsibilities, respecting reasonable deadlines, communicating absences or difficulties promptly, acknowledging others’ contributions, respecting intellectual property and confidentiality, and correcting substantive errors when identified. We prohibit the deliberate misrepresentation of qualifications, research findings, institutional authority, or individual contributions to our work.
We are committed to handling reports fairly, consistently, and with appropriate discretion. Where a concern requires formal review, we take reasonable steps to assess the available evidence, hear from relevant parties, protect sensitive information, and avoid premature conclusions. We expect everyone involved in a review to cooperate honestly and refrain from concealing evidence, improperly influencing witnesses, obstructing proceedings, or knowingly providing false information.
We do not tolerate retaliation, intimidation, discrimination, threats, professional obstruction, or other adverse treatment against anyone who raises a concern in good faith, participates in an internal review, or assists in upholding our ethical standards. We extend the same protection to individuals who reasonably refuse to engage in conduct they believe would violate our policies. We treat allegations of retaliation as separate matters requiring appropriate assessment.
Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that accountability is fair and proportionate. We assess allegations on their merits and provide individuals subject to complaints with a reasonable opportunity to respond before reaching a finding, while recognizing that immediate protective measures may be necessary in certain circumstances. We respect confidentiality as far as reasonably practicable without preventing necessary action to protect our members or organization.
Depending on the nature and severity of a breach, we may take appropriate corrective or disciplinary action, including providing guidance, issuing formal warnings, restricting duties, removing an individual from a leadership or project role, suspending or terminating membership or appointment, or referring the matter to the appropriate external authority where warranted and lawful. We consider the available evidence, the seriousness of the conduct, relevant circumstances, and the need to protect our members and organization when determining appropriate measures. Repeated misconduct, serious abuse of authority, deliberate retaliation, or conduct that substantially undermines our institutional integrity may warrant more severe consequences.
World Order Lab holds everyone to the same standards of accountability. No individual stands above the principles that define World Order Lab.
5. Collective Solidarity and Mutual Protection
World Order Lab recognizes that the safety, dignity, as well as professional integrity of our members are shared responsibilities. Members contribute not only through their individual work, but also through their participation in a common institution whose credibility and security depend on the ability of its people to work without threats, intimidation, or deliberate hostility.
Accordingly, any actual, attempted, threatened, or reasonably perceived act of harm, violence, physical assault, bullying, intimidation, coercion, targeted harassment, stalking, sexual harassment, discrimination, doxxing, cyberbullying, online abuse, malicious impersonation, unauthorized disclosure of personal information, property damage, or other hostile conduct directed against a member in connection with their affiliation with World Order Lab shall be treated as a matter of collective concern to the organization.
This principle reflects the understanding that a harm against one member, when connected to their legitimate work for World Order Lab, may threaten the ability of other members to conduct research, express evidence-based views, participate in public debate, and carry out their responsibilities without fear. Such conduct must not be dismissed as an isolated personal matter merely because the immediate harm is directed at one individual.
When such an incident occurs, World Order Lab shall treat the matter with utmost seriousness and take appropriate, timely, and proportionate action to safeguard the affected member, protect the wider membership, and uphold the organization’s interests. Where reasonably practicable and consistent with the affected member’s wishes, institutional capacity, and applicable law, we shall provide appropriate support and implement reasonable protective measures to prevent further harm, intimidation, or interference with our members’ work and organizational activities.
The governing principle is that no member should be left to face risks connected to their work with World Order Lab alone. Any such incident affecting a member is a matter of collective concern and a shared commitment to safeguarding the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of all our members.
Upholding the Charter
The Charter of Ethics & Integrity establishes the principles and standards that guide our conduct, decisions, and responsibilities as members of World Order Lab. All our members and individuals acting on our behalf are bound by this Charter and are expected to uphold its principles throughout their affiliation with us.
We encourage stakeholders to raise concerns regarding potential misconduct, conflicts of interest, ethical violations, discrimination, harassment, or any other breaches of our Charter. If you have a concern to report, please reach out to us through our designated Contact channel.
World Order Lab is committed to taking all concerns seriously, handling reports with appropriate discretion, and protecting individuals who raise concerns in good faith from retaliation.
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World Order Lab is a youth-driven, nonpartisan, and non-profit think-tank dedicated to advancing rigorous analysis and producing high-impact insights on the world’s most pressing security and governance challenges, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia.