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2007 Assessment

Burundi: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Burundi: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Whistle-blowing Measures
Indicators		Score
45	Are employees protected from recrimination or other negative consequences when reporting corruption (i.e. whistle-blowing)?	75
46	In law, is there an internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption?	0
47	In practice, is the internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption effective?	0

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are employees protected from recrimination or other negative consequences when reporting corruption (i.e. whistle-blowing)?

45a: In law, civil servants who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Article 12 de la loi N°1/ 12 du 18 avril 2006 portant mesures de prévention et de répression de la corrption et des infractions connexes

45b: In practice, civil servants who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Interview with Christophe Sebudandi, a private consultant in government and corruption, Aug. 27, 2007, in Bujumbura.

45c: In law, private sector employees who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Article 12 de la loi N°1/ 12 du 18 avril 2006 portant mesures de prévention et de corruption et des infractions connexes

45d: In practice, private sector employees who report cases of corruption, graft, abuse of power, or abuse of resources are protected from recrimination or other negative consequences.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Interview with Christophe Sebudandi, a private consultant in government and corruption, Aug. 27, 2007, in Bujumbura.

Peer Review Comments: I doubt this is true. It all depends. Burundian labor law does protect employees very well: it is extremely hard to get rid of them. Issues related to corruption turn rapidly into divisive matters, often along ethnic lines. Employers might not be able to legally get rid of a whistle-blower, but employers can make life very difficult indeed for such a person, and illegal sacking is possible. But, given the precarious nature of any job and the absence of rule of law in society, most people would not dream of endangering a job because of corruption or other abuses--even if they personally disagreed with what they witnessed. The social and economic pressures on them far outweigh any presumed legal protection from which they might benefit.

In law, is there an internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption?

46: In law, is there an internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption?

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: La loi N°1/ 12 du 18 avril 2006 portant mesures de prévention et de répression de la corruptio et des infractions connexes

In practice, is the internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption effective?

47a: In practice, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments: There is no such mechanism, but the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements operates a toll-free whistleblowing tip line.

References: Interview with Gabriel Rufyiri, president of the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements, July 24, 2007, in Bujumbura.

47b: In practice, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption receives regular funding.

Score:

100

Comments: There is no such mechanism, but the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements operates a toll-free whistleblowing tip line.

References: Interview with Gabriel Rufyiri, president of the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements, July 24, 2007, in Bujumbura.

47c: In practice, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption acts on complaints within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: There is no such mechanism, but the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements operates a toll-free whistleblowing tip line.

References: Interview with Gabriel Rufyiri, president of the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements, July 24, 2007, in Bujumbura.

47d: In practice, when necessary, the internal reporting mechanism for public sector corruption initiates investigations.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: When irregularities are discovered, the agency/entity is aggressive in investigating the government or in cooperating with other agencies\' investigations. <p>50 Score Criteria: The agency/entity starts investigations, but is limited in its effectiveness. The agency/entity may be slow to act, unwilling to take on politically powerful offenders, reluctant to cooperate with other investigative agencies, or occasionally unable to enforce its judgments. <p>0 Score Criteria: The agency/entity does not effectively investigate. The agency/entity may start investigations but not complete them, may refuse to cooperate with other investigative agencies, or may fail to detect offenders. The agency/entity may be partisan in its application of power.$

Comments: There is no such mechanism, but the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements operates a toll-free whistleblowing tip line.

References: Interview with Gabriel Rufyiri, president of the Observatory for Fight Against Corruption and Economic Embezzlements, July 24, 2007, in Bujumbura.