Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14483 | 23 January 2018
Improving the protection of whistle-blowers all over Europe
Since 2010, the Parliamentary Assembly has adopted several resolutions and recommendations stressing the importance of improving the protection of whistleblowers, Resolution 1729 (2010), Recommandation 1916 (2010), Resolution 2060 (2015), Recommandation 2073 (2015) and more specifically on top secret matters Resolution 1838 (2011), and the protection of journalists' sources of information Recommandation 1983 (2011), Recommandation 1950 (2011). The Committee of Ministers also addressed the subject in its Recommendation CM/Rec (2014).
The continuation of this work would mark, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the desire for an effective transposition into the legislation of the States parties to the European Convention on Human Rights of enhanced protection for whistleblowers. Indeed, this protection needs to be strengthened, particularly in the fields of public security, corruption and finance. The law in this area is not steady, as illustrated by several cases that have arisen in recent years.
The role of whistleblowers in fighting corruption, embezzlement and public security breaches has become indisputable. The challenge of harmonising the qualification of the whistleblower and sharing good practices among States promoting increased protection for them has become essential.
The Assembly therefore decides to examine and evaluate the States practices concerning the protection of whistleblowers, by studying the advantages, difficulties and human rights implications of these legislations in the light of the recommendations previously adopted. Following this study, the Assembly will make recommendations to the member States and the Committee of Ministers on the relevance of these regulations and the possibilities of strengthening them, taking full account of the European Union's action and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.