The Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law is founded on a bilateral agreement signed between the United Nations University and Griffith University. Other partners can join through signing bilateral agreements with Griffith University which are ratified by the United Nations University. By doing so, such universities and non-government organisations become Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law partners.

• Institute's brochure (PDF 191k)

The Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law brings together a number of Key Centre research programs, related research at the United Nations University and is the headquarters of Australia's Governance Research Network. The Institute also provides Australian and regional leadership for the World Bank-supported Global Integrity Alliance.

• Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance
• Governance Research Network
• International Institute for Public Ethics

United Nations University

Welcome by Prof Dr Hans van Ginkel, Rector United Nations University and United Nations Under-Secretary

The United Nations University, through a worldwide network of research institutes and scholars, conducts policy relevant research to assist the United Nations in the resolution of pressing global problems.

Human beings have come together over time to create institutions great and small - from the smallest non-government organisation, to the wealthiest corporations, the strongest states and the United Nations itself. Such institutions can contribute much to the health, wealth, happiness and security of individuals. However, the same institutions can also pose enormous threats to human security. The United Nations University strives to acquire and disseminate knowledge for strengthening human security and advancing human development.

We are more then ever convinced of the fundamental importance of governance for both the security and the development agendas of the United Nations. This is why we are very pleased that United Nations University has joined forces with Griffith University in Australia to set up the network-based Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law for research and capacity building in institutional and community governance.

Governance is the art of ensuring that institutions, by being grounded in law and informed by ethics, enhance the lives of the people they were created to serve rather than threaten those whom they touch. The Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law approach to good governance asks institutions to justify themselves to the communities in which they operate by the values for which they stand. Institutions and leaders who live up to those values have greater integrity than those who use institutional power and resources to advance their own interests at the expense of core values.

This approach is exemplified in Institute for Ethics, Governance and Law projects, such as the ethics of intervention, deterring and defeating threats to democracy, mapping national integrity systems, and building ethics into the corporate governance of public agencies, government owned corporations, large and small companies, and the professions.

We are confident that such work will flourish in the joint United Nations University-Griffith Institute and, like other United Nations University work, will generate in-depth empirical and analytical research that provides a helpful guide to the United Nations in its operations.

We anticipate important work from this new Institute and look forward to hearing news on your progress.