Supported by EUROsociAL+ and with collaboration from the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Chilean chapter of Transparency International has set up a free and confidential advice service for citizens who report acts of corruption
Reporting an act of corruption is quite a challenge. Fear of reprisals and distrust of state institutions, together with the complexity and slow pace of justice, require perseverance, patience, a commitment to democratic values and, above all, lots of courage. Often, those who report acts of corruption are looked down upon, like informers or even traitors.
In order to provide free legal assistance to victims, witnesses and/or whistleblowers in cases of corruption involving public authorities and/or officials, Chile Transparente, the Chilean Chapter of Transparency International (TI), has set up an Anti-Corruption Legal Assistance (ACLA) office. The initiative has had the technical support of EUROsociAL+, within the framework of initiatives by its democratic governance area.
The ACLA seeks to encourage citizen participation by providing a secure and confidential channel where anyone can report allegedly corrupt acts. Citizens can report any irregular behaviour or suspected corrupt act involving the authorities or officials in any public institution within the Chilean State Administration through the website www.denunciacorrupcion.cl.
These centres originated in Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and they have rapidly spread to other places in the world. Today there are 90 ACLAs in 60 countries, to which more than 140,000 citizens have so far turned for assistance.
The official launch of the ACLA took place in Santiago, Chile, and it was attended by the European Union Ambassador to Chile, Stella Zervoudaki; the President of Transparency International, Delia Ferreira Rubio; the Comptroller General of the Republic, Jorge Bermúdez; the National Prosecutor, Jorge Abbott; and the Minister Secretary-General of the Presidency, Gonzalo Blumel.
These authorities applauded this initiative, as it will make it possible to tackle corruption, while at the same time encouraging greater citizen involvement in the public sphere at a time when the crisis of representativeness and political disaffection has spread in many democracies. In the words of the National Public Prosecutor, “projects such as these are absolutely essential for carrying out investigations into corruption”, since “without civilian control of state activity, it is very difficult for there to be no dark corners within an administration”.
See promotional video www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u-rraJleFk
Área de políticas de gobernanza democrática. Democratic governance area – EUROsociAL+ / Chile Transparente
