There must be no backtracking in the
fight against corruption because, despite the undoubted results
obtained in recent years, "the phenomenon is still widespread",
the head of Italian anti-corruption authority ANAC, Giuseppe
Busìa, said on Friday.
"In recent years Italy has taken important steps forward in the
fight against corruption," Busìa told ANSA on the International
Day against Corruption.
"Since the creation of ANAC, from 2014 to today, Italy has risen
by 28 positions according to Transparency International's annual
corruption perception ranking," he added.
"However, we must not lower our guard," he warned.
Busia reported that already "600 whistleblowing reports have
been transmitted to ANAC since 15 July", when a new law
protecting whistleblowers in the workplace took effect.
This, he said is "a significant number that is destined to grow
further" after December 17, when "the protection of
whistleblowers will be extended to private companies with
between 50 and 249 employees, which will therefore have to
activate an internal channel for the transmission and management
of reports".
"We are talking about genuine 'civic lookouts', who are ready to
put their own interests on the line to denounce unlawful
behaviour. They are a fundamental lever, not only to bring
corruption and crime to light, but also to grow and improve the
efficiency of the public and private sectors," continued Busìa.
This, he said, is why whistleblower protection is "an
internationally recognised right, an extension of the right to
freedom of expression".
"Protecting whistleblowers from retaliatory behaviour is the
Authority's imperative.
Those who responsibly report irregularities know that they can
find protection, without fear of retaliation by their
superiors," he told ANSA.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
