Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — On resuming its work on Sept. 10, 2018 (at the end of Dhul Hijjah 1439H), the Shoura Council is set to discuss in its upcoming sessions the report of the Committee for Human Rights and Supervisory Commissions on a proposal for protection of whistle-blowers, witnesses and experts.

The proposal was presented by Shoura Council members Dr. Ma’dy Aal Mudhhib and Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghidayyan.

The proposal refers to the establishment of the National Anti-corruption Commission (Nazaha), whose functions include protection of integrity, enhancing the principle of transparency, and combating financial and administrative corruption of all forms and methods. It also refers to the speech of Nazaha Chairman during the 2nd International Integrity Conference held in Riyadh recently on some whistle-blowers being harmed after reporting cases of corruption.

The proposal says that the legislation of the majority of advanced countries includes laws and policies for protecting whistle-blowers. These include the USA, Canada and Britain as well as some Asian countries, like India, Japan and Singapore and some Arab countries, like Tunisia and Jordan.

Dr. Ma’dy Aal Mudhhib said this proposal was made to enhance integrity and protect whistle-blowers from dismissal, not being promoted in their jobs, unfair treatment and revenge in the vicinity of their work by their organizations, managers or colleagues.

He added that the proposed regulation will fill a lacuna in the current regulations, in terms of protecting and enhancing the whistle-blowers’ integrity, increasing the level of bearing responsibility and trust between the authorities concerned with countering corruption, employees and the citizens.

He said the proposed regulation is based on several systems and principles, including the basic system of governance and the royal order approving the establishment of Nazaha, among others.

The goals of the proposal are to control the process of reporting incidents of administrative corruption and protecting whistle-blowers’ integrity through the following:

1. Establishment of the regulatory bases for the ways and procedures for reporting corruption.

2. Encouraging whistle-blowers to take the initiative and interact with the National Anti-corruption Commission (Nazaha).

3. Clarify the method and mechanism for reporting corruption.

4. To protect whistle-blowers and not to harass them in their places of work.

5. Availability of regulations for protecting whistle-blowers reporting graft.

6. Putting a limit to false reports.

7. Creating an attractive environment for investment.