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ECOWAS is sensitising stakeholders in the region as well as its partners on the imperative of a Whistleblower Protection Strategy.

To this end, a meeting on advocacy and sensitization held in Cotonou, Benin Republic on the February 22 and 23.

The meeting which was facilitated by the ECOWAS Commission, sensitized Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, Media practitioners and operational staff of National Anti-corruption Institutions in Benin Republic on the ECOWAS Whistleblower Protection Strategy and the need for a robust advocacy on the enactment of a stand-alone law on whistleblower protection in Benin Republic.

Also at the meeting, the increasing collective consciousness on the necessity of up-holding the values of integrity and transparency in the management of public resources in the region, was highlighted.

Participants at the meeting agreed that stakeholders should be encouraged to use Whistle blowing as part of their strategy to promote transparency in the management of public resources and holding government accountable in Benin Republic.

They also underscored the need for the enactment and effective implementation of a dedicated national legislation to engender comprehensive protection of whistle-blowers in the country while urging the country’s National Assembly to expedite actions on promulgating a stand-alone legislation for the protection of whistle-blowers.

Other relevant offices such as the Prosecutor-General and agencies such as security forces were urged to put special protection measures in place to advance the cause of whistle blowing.

To this end, the participants urged the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Benin, in collaboration with Social Watch to facilitate joint training programmes on security forces, CSOs and Media practitioners’ relations on the promotion of whistleblowing culture and protection of whistleblowers in Benin Republic.

The Benin Republic chapter of the ECOWAS Civil Society Organizations Platform on Transparency and Accountability in Governance, ECSOPTAG, was launched by the fact of the meeting.

Participants rose after commending the ECOWAS Commission for its commitment to advancing the promotion of good governance and whistleblowing as viable strategy for the fight against corruption in Benin Republic.

In attendance at the meeting were Mr. Andre Sagbo, general secretary, ministry of justice of Benin, leaders of CSOs, anti-corruption networks, and United Nations agencies including the ECOWAS Commission director, Political Affairs Remi Ajibewa, and other key stakeholders involved in the promotion of integrity governance in the Republic of Benin.

—  Mar 1, 2017 @ 19:30 GMT

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