What is established to uphold the highest standards of ethics among public servants?

The establishment of a Code of Conduct is crucial in upholding the highest standards of ethics among public servants. This Code serves as a guiding framework that outlines the principles and values that public officials and employees must adhere to in their roles. It promotes accountability, transparency, and integrity within public service by providing clear standards for professional behavior. This Code is designed to prevent corruption, conflicts of interest, and unethical practices, thereby fostering public trust in government institutions.

In contrast, while incentives and rewards systems, performance metrics, and training programs contribute to the overall efficiency and development of public officials, they do not primarily focus on ethical standards. Incentives may encourage good performance, but they do not inherently address ethical behavior. Performance metrics assess how well public officials perform their duties but might overlook the ethical implications of their actions. Training programs can enhance skills and knowledge but may not explicitly reinforce ethical standards without a formalized Code of Conduct to guide them. Thus, the Code of Conduct remains the foundational element essential for establishing ethical standards in public service.