About Leadership Conduct Office
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Our Values
To assist devotees who have been abused, traumatized, or victimized. To bring to Justice their perpetrators and to offer rehabilitation efforts for both parties. Our Mission To promote a safe, secure and sacred environment in which the dignity of all persons is respected and which is free from Leadership Misconduct or Injustice. Our Vision To guide our ISKCON Mission with respect to integrity, ethical high standards, morality, compassion and Bhakti seva as Srila Prabhupada envisioned for his Devotee movement. |
Our Duty to Vaisnavas
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Our Office has a duty to WARN the Public of Crimes against Vaisnavas.
Preventing, stopping and eradicating abuse and harassment requires organization, funding, effort, active participation and education. Most often sexual misconduct and abuse happens in a shroud of darkness and silence, in an environment that tolerates misuse of power. We have a responsibility to warn others who may have witnessed abuse, or were told about a particular abuse, or decided to keep their horrible secret to themselves. Not wanting to talk about it ever. Unless we talk about it, learn about it and actively address it, the legacy of abuse will affect one generation after another and the cycle of abuse will continue to grow. Qualified persons committed to working on the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct and sexual harassment are necessary components for a healthy and safe society. We often use the slogan, "If you see something, Say something and Do something about it!" People dedicated to overseeing compliance with laws and case conclusions, actively supporting accountability and boundaries are also vital to safe communities. Our ability to eradicate abuse of anyone, requires that we strengthen the infrastructure to carry out these services consistently. To those who seek understanding of this social ill that plagues the most vulnerable among us, thank you for endeavoring to be on the right side of the Law and our ISKCON Code of Ethical Behavior. You can learn from posts and articles on this website. There will be training sessions every year to educate others about dealing with abuse at the hands of ISKCON leaders. The Lord is entrusting us to protect the vulnerable of our society. A consciousness of protection is needed and required of all ISKCON members. Many children grew up in an environment that was not healthy, nor stable or without compassion. Many ISKCON adults today have tragedies from their childhood that they have not even spoken of or tried to heal. Sadly, many have turned their backs on ISKCON and lost their faith in a misunderstanding of non-compassion that they believe existed. Many are unable to speak about “their secret” choosing instead “forgetting that any of it actually happened to them.” We do not want to see another lost generation turning away from Krishna. Krishna, who is the most kind, merciful and loving Supreme Lord. The One who knows perfectly well all about us from Paramatma in our hearts. Our Office is here to train, educate and offer ways for the Prevention of Misconduct and Abuse. Contact us at: [email protected] or at our website www.lcoi.info. |
On Justice
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ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradāya, a monotheistic tradition within the Vedic culture of India. Philosophically, it is based on the Sanskrit texts of Bhagavad-gītā and the Srimad Bhagavatam. Ultimately, our Krishna Conscious philosophy is based on the legacy that A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left in our care. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s legacy was one of wholesomeness, encouragement, honesty and becoming the devotees that we always wanted to be. A legacy where harm, abuse, cheating, stealing, lying and all types of negative activities or crimes should not ever exist.
ISKCON believes that a person's qualities and actions, not their birth, determine their varna. ISKCON's educational and religious activities are open to all, regardless of caste, creed, race, gender, or background. In ancient Greece, "justice" was known as "dike" (pronounced "dee-kay") which was a widely understood concept representing the principles of fairness and right action, considered a fundamental virtue in Greek society; essentially, it was something everyone was expected to know and strive for. Sexual misconduct within ministerial service and work relationships within ISKCON is a betrayal of sacred trust. Sexual misconduct has a broad range of acts which may overlap in respect to sexual behavior, sexual harassment and sexual abuse. Complaints of sexual misconduct will be taken seriously and will be dealt with in a spirit of justice and compassion. The power differential between leaders and their followers is such that the follower is presumed to be unable to give consent. Leadership sexual misconduct in any form is unacceptable as anyone who serves under the authority of ISKCON must be held to the highest standards of behavior and free of sexual misconduct of any type. |