Source: mlalerte.org
A proposed law to improve the protection of whistleblowers which seeks to transpose the EU Directive on whistleblowing has been submitted to Parliament in France.
The proposed Bill, filed in the office of the National Assembly by Member of Parliament Sylvain Waserman (Modern group) maintains the provisions of the current whistleblowing law known as “Sapin 2” but addressed its main shortcomings and improves on the minimum standards of the Directive. Key changes include:
- Removing the need for whistleblowers to act ‘disinterestedly (good faith)
- Expanding immunities from criminal prosecutions of whistleblowers
- Reinforcing sanctions for retaliation with up to 3 years imprisonment
A separate accompanying Bill will also strengthen the power of the Defender of Rights to receive whistleblowing reports and monitor implementation by the French Authorities.
NGO Maison de Lanceur D’alerte (the House of the Whistleblower) is calling for the government and parliamentarians to support the Bill but continue to campaign for improvements to bring the proposal in line with international consensus on best practice principles:
“By choosing an ambitious transposition, this bill responds to many demands of the House of Whistleblowers and constitutes a strong signal sent to whistleblowers as well as to the organizations that support them.”