5. Glossary – Definitions

Ethics alert; Whistleblowing

The act of a man or woman who, believing that the public interest outweighs the interests of the organization he or she serves, sounds the alarm that the organization is involved in corrupt, fraudulent, illegal or dangerous activity.

Déontologie; Professional ethics

All the duties imposed on professionals by the exercise of their profession.

Strict legal meaning: a document registered in the legal system and linked to an identified regulatory body, such as an order.

Extended meaning: A set of rules recognized by a professional group and enshrined in a reference text for all its members.

Soft law

A type of law that lacks some of the characteristics traditionally associated with the rule...