Ethiopia Moves Forward with Whistleblower Protection Reforms amid Corruption Concerns

Addis Ababa, November 13, 2021 - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been providing crucial support to the Ethiopian government in strengthening whistleblower protection laws, a vital step in combating corruption. This effort is part of UNODC’s “Accelerating the Implementation of United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Africa” project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Development Cooperation (BMZ).

Strengthening Whistleblower Protection Laws

A three-day workshop was held from November 11-13, bringing together 11 representatives from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Justice and Federal High Court to discuss integrating whistleblower protection provisions into their legal framework. The event marks a significant milestone as Ethiopia finalizes its review of a draft proclamation on witness and whistleblower protection.

Identifying Gaps in Existing Legislation

The current Proclamation 699/2010 provides for the protection of witnesses and whistleblowers, but UNODC experts identified gaps in the existing legislation. A workshop on whistleblower protection was held in June 2021 to strengthen this component, which will now be undertaken in parallel with the work on witness protection.

Experts Emphasize Importance of Localized Solution

UNODC consultant Ashley Savage emphasized the need for a localized solution, drawing upon international best practices and current drafting processes. “It’s essential to have a separate section dealing with whistleblowers, taking into account the current stage of the drafting process,” he said.

Learning from International Best Practices

Louise Portas, Programme Officer at UNODC Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, stressed the importance of learning from conceptual developments and tried-out practices related to whistleblower protection. She offered UNODC’s expertise to explore how these issues could be addressed.

Open-Mindedness and Technical Assistance Appreciated

The workshop participants appreciated the open-mindedness and eagerness to capitalize on UNODC’s technical assistance. “We are grateful for the guidance provided, which will be invaluable for finalizing the ongoing legislative drafting process,” said Wubet Gashaw, Director for Witness Protection at the Ministry of Justice.

Fighting Corruption with Effective Whistleblower Reporting Mechanisms

The successful finalization and adoption of the proposed proclamation would provide effective whistleblower reporting and protection mechanisms crucial to fighting corruption, which has been identified as one of the biggest threats during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next Steps

It remains to be seen whether UNODC’s technical advice will be factored in during the finalization of the drafting process. The next step would involve a validation workshop to popularize the draft legislation and elicit support for its adoption.