The Network seeks to enhance transparency and accountability and to strengthen the rule of law and civic participation in Lebanon through access to information, and protection for individuals who report corruption, commonly referred to as whistleblower protection.
Lebanon lacks key transparency and anti-corruption legislation.
An access to information law will create a more open and democratic society by allowing individuals to seek and receive public documents that affect their daily lives, enabling them to make informed decisions and deepening trust between citizens and their government. Access to information also increases government efficiency, discourages arbitrary state action, reduces corruption, promotes investment, and enhances investigative journalism.
In turn, a whistleblower protection law will empower Lebanese citizens to speak out in the public interest without fear of retribution, unveil cases of corruption, and expose public mismanagement and other illegal practices.
Specifically, the Network undertakes to:- draft access to information and whistleblower protection legislation;
- raise awareness on these two rights among citizens, the public and private sectors, members of parliament and candidates, and the media;
- build citizens’ capacity to claim their right for access to information and for protection when reporting corruption;
- encourage stakeholders to support the passage of the laws.