21 JULY 2004
Four MDB's Fail to Protect Whistleblowers, Group Finds

The protection of whistleblowers at four major multilateral development banks is deficient, according to a report by The Government Accounting Project.

Using a 24-point checklist, the Washington-based nongovernmental organization said none of the four institutions merited a passing grade. Out of a total of 100 possible points, the World Bank rated 60, the Asian Development 55, the Inter-American Development Bank 49, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 45.

The report, "Culture of Secrecy," can be downloaded here.

Calling the results "a baseline," GAP's legal director Tom Devine said in a press release, "Our study demonstrates that none of the banks have reliably safe channel for whistleblowers to make a difference against corruption." He noted that GAP feels it cannot responsibly recommend that whistleblowers work with the banks' policies.

The good news, GAP reported, is that the banks are increasingly interested in upgrading their protections for employees and others who bring forward evidence of wrongdoing.

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