Protecting whistleblowers in Mexico: Ensuring secure channels and protections for reporting corruption

Effective public sector integrity frameworks aim to incentivise whistleblowers to disclose misconduct by ensuring visible support and positive reinforcement from the organisational hierarchy, clear guidance on reporting procedures, and effective legal protection from retaliation. Such measures are considered paramount for effectively detecting misconduct, safeguarding the public interest and promoting a culture of integrity in the public sector. Mexico recently passed the General Law on Administrative Responsibilities, which will strengthen whistleblower protection when it comes into force in July 2017. This chapter will assess Mexico’s new whistleblowing framework by examining the extent to which whistleblowers are protected from reprisals, whether disclosures of misconduct are effectively managed, whether civil servants and the public are aware of the critical role that whistleblowers play in safeguarding the public interest, and how the framework has implemented appropriate measures to monitor its effectiveness on an ongoing basis.