EN
العربية
Summary
On March 10, 2009, Transparency International – Lebanon (TI-LB) launched the Lebanese Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (LALAC), a model developed by Transparency International and adapted to the Lebanese context. LALAC aims to foster dialogue on corruption and build partnerships with public institutions to strengthen anti-corruption efforts. It provides citizens with a safe channel to voice concerns, report corruption, and seek legal advice through its mobile legal clinic, Ekhbar. By analyzing reported cases—whether individual or recurring patterns—LALAC advocates for evidence-based reforms that promote better governance.
In response to Lebanon’s shifting
digital landscape and the need for secure, anonymous reporting tools, TI-LB
launched the Ekhbar online platform in August 2024. The platform enhances
access to legal services and simplifies the process of reporting corruption,
filing Access to Information (ATI) requests, and seeking legal advice. Designed
to protect users' confidentiality, the platform helps empower citizens and
strengthens transparency and accountability in public institutions.
Effort
Overview
|
Question |
Details |
|
What was the reform challenge? |
The absence of a safe,
confidential, and accessible mechanism for citizens to report corruption or
demand accountability from public institutions. Additionally, existing legal
tools—such as the Access to Information (ATI) Law and the Whistleblower
Protection Law—remained underutilized due to limited awareness, lack of
enforcement, and fear of retaliation. |
|
What was the civic strategy or action taken? |
TI-LB
developed the Ekhbar online platform, building on LALAC’s legacy. The
platform provides a secure space for citizens to anonymously report corruption,
seek legal advice, draft ATI requests, and access anti-corruption information. |
|
What agencies were targeted? |
Citizens, civil society organizations (CSOs),
journalists, and activists can submit reports through the Ekhbar hotline or
online platform, where they can become registered users and track their
cases. |
|
What reform priorities does it relate to? |
Access
to Information Law No. 28/2017; Whistleblower Protection Law No. 83/2018; the
Law on Fighting Corruption in the Public Sector and the Establishment of the
National Anti-Corruption Commission No.175/2020; National Anti-Corruption
Strategy 2020–2025; 3RF Governance & Accountability pillar. |
Progress
Snapshot
|
Indicator |
Value |
Comments |
|
Reports Received |
372 |
Number of citizens engaged in identifying, reporting and
preventing corruption (Ekhbar) |
|
ATI Requests Filed |
86 |
Since 2022 |
|
Ekhbar Online Platform Launched |
1 |
Results
|
Achievement |
Sources |
|
Citizens were provided with both a confidential hotline
and a secure online platform to report corruption, request assistance in
drafting Access to Information (ATI) requests, and seek legal advice |
|
|
Legal assistance was delivered to whistleblowers, ensuring
protection and guidance throughout the reporting process |
|
|
Data from reported cases helped draft evidence-based
reform recommendations |
https://schoolofgovernance.net/library/whistleblowers-protection
|
|
Data from reported cases contributed to the development of
a publicly accessible Case Portal, featuring an interactive dashboard that
allows users to filter and analyze corruption reports by type, sector,
region, and more—promoting transparency and civic oversight. |
Challenges
Faced
|
Challenge |
Solution(s) |
|
Citizens fear retaliation or exposure when reporting
corruption |
The platform includes secure anonymity features and
provides legal guidance to protect whistleblowers. |
|
Institutional follow-up is weak or inconsistent |
TI-LB is actively engaging with the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and relevant public institutions to
establish clear referral pathways and strengthen follow-up mechanisms. |
|
Public underuse of ATI Law due to lack of awareness |
The platform provides legal support, access to a dedicated
knowledge center, and user-friendly tools to help citizens draft and submit
ATI requests effectively. |
Calls to Action
- Report
corruption securely and anonymously via the Ekhbar online platform
or call the confidential hotline at 03/868303
- Submit
your own Access to Information (ATI) request: https://ekhbar.org/public
- Access
verified anti-corruption resources through the Ekhbar
Knowledge Center
- Explore
real-time data on reported corruption cases via the interactive Case Portal
Annexes & Resources
- Policy
Recommendation: LINK
- Ekhbar
Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/ekhbarlb/
https://www.facebook.com/EkhbarLB/
Contact Point
Transparency International Lebanon
transparency@transparency-lebanon.org
+961 1 616 001
