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2007 Assessment

France: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

France: 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)?	50
46	In law, is there an internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption?	100
47	In practice, is the internal mechanism (i.e. phone hotline, e-mail address, local office) through which civil servants can report corruption effective?	50

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 11 du titre I du Statut général des fonctionnaires Délibération de la CNIL n° 2005-305 du 8 décembre 2005 portant autorisation unique de traitements automatisés de données à caractère personnel mis en oeuvre dans le cadre de dispositifs d'alerte professionnelle, [ LINK ]; Loi n° 78-17 du 6 Janvier 1978 relative à l'informatique, aux fichiers et aux libertés, [ LINK ]

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: CNIL (National Commission on Informatics and Freedom), La CNIL rappelle les règles pour les dispositifs d'alerte professionnelle, March 8, 2007, [ LINK ]; FAQ sur les dispositifs d'alerte professionnelle, March 1, 2006, [ LINK ],

English version: FAQs on whistleblowing systems, [ LINK ]

Délibération de la CNIL n° 2005-305 portant autorisation unique de traitements automatisés de données à caractère personnel mis en Suvre dans le cadre de dispositifs d'alerte professionnelle, Dec. 8, 2005, [ LINK ];

Transparency International, In Focus Whistleblowers, Aug. 15, 2007, [ LINK ]

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: There is no such law.

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: Whstleblowers enjoy protection from other more general statutes (work law, criminal law), even though their situation is delicate and they might fear recrimination.

English version: FAQs on whistleblowing systems, [ LINK ]

Transparency International, In Focus Whistleblowers, Aug. 15, 2007, [ LINK ]

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: The mechanism is called "dispositif d'alerte professionnelle". It is aimed at inciting employees to report to their employer behaviors which they consider to be unlawful or irregular.

Délibération de la CNIL n° 2005-305 portant autorisation unique de traitements automatisés de données à caractère personnel mis en oeuvre dans le cadre de dispositifs d'alerte professionnelle, Dec. 8, 2005, [ LINK ]

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: Internal reporting mechanisms for public sector corruption are under development and are not always fully operational in all administrations.

References: Pierre-David Labani, Le whistleblowing est désormais exlicitement autorisé en France, March 2006, Transparence France, [ LINK ];

Transparence France, Déclencher l'alerte, Octobre 2004, [ LINK ];

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

Score:

100

Comments: Internal reporting mechanisms for public sector corruption are under development and are not fully operational in all administrations.

References: Pierre-David Labani, Le whistleblowing est désormais exlicitement autorisé en France, March 2006, Transparence France, [ LINK ];

Transparence France, Déclencher l'alerte, Octobre 2004, [ LINK ];

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

Score:

100

Comments: Internal reporting mechanisms for public sector corruption are under development and are not always fully operational in all administrations.

References: Pierre-David Labani, Le whistleblowing est désormais exlicitement autorisé en France, March 2006, Transparence France, [ LINK ];

Transparence France, Déclencher l'alerte, Octobre 2004, [ LINK ];

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: Internal reporting mechanisms for public sector corruption are under development and are not always fully operational in all administrations.

References: Pierre-David Labani, Le whistleblowing est désormais exlicitement autorisé en France, March 2006, Transparence France, [ LINK ];

Transparence France, Déclencher l'alerte, Octobre 2004, [ LINK ];