GAP submitted written testimony to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on “Establishing Accountability at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): Illicit Technology Transfers, Whistleblowing, and Reform” as part of the hearing into the alleged misconduct of Deputy Director Francis Gurry. The testimony, written by GAP Legal Director Tom Devine, analyzed WIPO’s whistleblower policy based on best practice standards developed from the minimally credible whistleblower laws of 30 countries and several Intergovernmental Organizations’ (IGO) policies. Reflecting GAP’s 35 years of experience working on these issues, the analysis concluded that”…this seriously-flawed policy does not provide genuine free speech rights against retaliation for those who challenge abuses of power that betray WIPO’s mission.” In fact, WIPO’s policy barely passed 4 of the 20 requirements comprising recognized best practices.
Read the full testimony here