Conventions overview
whistleblower protection
(1) The relevant provisions in the various Conventions usually read for mandatory provisions "Each state Party shall take the necessary steps to/shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to… (e.g. promote, enhance transparency etc.)….". The text in the "Relevant Conventions Provision" box should therefore be read as if preceded by such a sentence. For optional provisions, the provisions begin with such text as "Each state Party shall consider…"
(2) The remark "None" in the column "Relevant Convention Provision" means that there is no explicit provision addressing the particular issue. Some of these issues may, nonetheless, be covered implicitly by the Convention in question.
| Convention | Relevant convention provision (1) |
Article
|
Mand.
|
| UN | Establish measures
and systems to facilitate the reporting by public officials of
acts of corruption to appropriate authorities, when such acts
come to their notice in the performance of their functions |
8(4)
|
|
| Provide effective protection from potential retaliation or intimation for witnesses and experts who give testimony concerning Convention offences |
32
|
Yes
|
|
| Provide protection against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts concerning Convention offences |
33
|
||
| OECD | OECD - None | ||
| AU | Adopt legislative and
other measures to protect informants and witnesses in corruption
and related offences, including protection of their identities |
5(5)
|
|
| Adopt measures that ensure citizens report instances of corruption without for of consequent reprisals |
5(6)
|
||
| CoE (Crim.) | Provide effective and appropriate protection for those who report criminal offences established by the Convention or otherwise co-operate with the investigating or prosecuting authorities |
22
|
|
| CoE (Civil) | Provide appropriate protection against any unjustified sanction for employees who have reasonable grounds to suspect corruption and who report in good faith their suspicion to responsible authorities |
9
|
|
| OAS | Create, maintain and strengthen systems for protecting public servants and private citizens who, in good faith, report acts of corruption, including protection of their identities |
III(8)
|
 |
Conventions |
 |
Donors & conventions |
|
Comparing conventions |
|
Links |
| RECOMMENDED READING |
|
Anti-Corruption Conventions in the Americas: What Civil Society Can Do to Make Them Work (A civil society and advocacy guide by Transparency International, 2006) A new TI publication which sets out how civil society can develop an advocacy strategy which promotes the ratification, implementation and inter-governmental follow-up and monitoring of conventions including UNCAC.
Institutional Arrangements to Combat Corruption - A comparative Study (UNDP) The UN Convention against Corruption requires that States designate a body or bodies to coordinate prevention and enforcement measures. This study explores how such institutional arrangements might look, and provides some lessons learned from existing models. A readable, informative resource for practitioners. |
