Internal reporting office according to the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG)
This has been in effect in Germany since July 2, 2023 Law for better protection of whistleblowers (HinSchG).
The Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) serves to protect people who report or disclose information about violations that they have acquired in connection with their professional activity (or their studies) at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (hereinafter THM).
The THM has based on the Section 12 Paragraphs 1 and 2 HinSchG An internal reporting point has been set up for such information and reporting point representatives are assigned § 14 HinSchG named who process incoming reports but also provide advice.
1. THM internal reporting office
The THM 's internal reporting office receives information from employees and students about events that fall within the scope of the Whistleblower Protection Act (§ 2 HinSchG) fall.
These include, among others:
- Violations that are punishable by law,
- Violations of regulations on the protection of personal data and the confidentiality of (electronic) communication and security in information technology,
- Violations of federal and uniformly applicable regulations for clients on the procedure for awarding public contracts,
- Violations of environmental law regulations,
- Statements made by civil servants that constitute a violation of the duty of loyalty to the constitution.
The specific reasons that can be reported to the internal reporting office are in § 2 HinSchG finally listed. Finally, this means that the internal reporting office cannot act for any reasons other than those listed in the law.
If you have any questions about the reasons or anything that is unclear, please contact us Registration office representative available to provide advice to the internal reporting office.
2. Confidentiality
All information is treated confidentially by the internal reporting office. The internal reporting office is also fundamentally obliged to ensure the confidentiality of the identity
- the person providing the information,
- the person who is the subject of a report, and
- the other persons named in the report.
to protect. All affected persons are always presumed innocent until wrongdoing can be proven.
The identity of these persons may only be known to those responsible for receiving reports or taking follow-up actions and those assisting them in carrying out these tasks. In § 9 HinSchG exceptions are regulated.
The protection of the person providing the information is guaranteed if, at the time of the information, they had sufficient reason to believe that misconduct within the meaning of § 12 HinSchG has been committed or is very likely to occur in the future. In this respect, reasonable suspicion is sufficient.
In any case, intentionally false information is not protected. Such communications may be subject to sanctions.
You therefore generally decide for yourself about the type and extent of disclosure of your personal data. It is therefore also possible to submit information anonymously. Please note, however, that your information may contain information that allows conclusions to be drawn about you even without your name being mentioned and can therefore indirectly lead to the disclosure of your identity.
3. Procedural Notes
According to § 17 Paragraph 1 HinSchG As the reporting person, you will receive confirmation of receipt of your report no later than seven days later.
If a report falls within the scope of the Whistleblower Protection Act, the reporting office checks the content of this report for plausibility. If the information is valid, the reporting office will take appropriate action § 18 HinSchG.
If the report is not made anonymously, you will receive a notification in accordance with Section 2 after three months and seven days at the latest. Section 17 Paragraph 2 HinSchG. This includes all planned and already taken follow-up measures as well as the reasons for them.
Personal data may be processed as part of the reporting procedure. The legal basis for processing this data is Art. 6 Paragraph 1 Letter c EU GDPR combined with § 10 HinSchG.
4. THM reporting channels
The following reporting channels have been set up for the internal reporting office of THM :
- Report by post
in writing with the note “closed and confidential” to:
Technical University of Central Hesse, Internal Reporting Office under the Whistleblower Protection Act, Wiesenstraße 14, 35390 Giessen - Report by email
email to This email address is being protected from spam bots! To display JavaScript must be turned on! - Report by telephone (answering machine with voice recording)
Telephone: +49 641 309-7799 - Report by mail
in writing with the note “closed and confidential” to:
Giessen Campus:
Technical University of Central Hesse, Internal Reporting Office under the Whistleblower Protection Act, in the THMdeadline mailbox, Wiesenstraße 14, Building A11
Friedberg campus:
Technical University of Central Hesse, Internal Reporting Office under the Whistleblower Protection Act, in the THMdeadline mailbox, Wilhelm-Leuschner-Straße 13, Building A1
Campus Wetzlar:
Technical University of Central Hesse, Internal Reporting Office under the Whistleblower Protection Act, in the THMmailbox, Charlotte-Bamberg-Straße 3, Building A1
We are also happy to receive information personally. You should arrange a personal meeting in advance by telephone or email with the person(s) you require Registration office representative with the internal reporting office.
Persons who intend to report information about misconduct have the free choice between using an internal or an external reporting point. However, it is recommended that an internal notice be given first if the misconduct can be effectively addressed internally and there is no fear of reprisals ( Section 7 Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 and 2 HinSchG). However, the person providing the information is protected in any case, regardless of their choice.
A central external reporting office has been set up at the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ) (BfJ - contact (bundesjustizamt.de). In addition, depending on the type of misconduct, the Federal Cartel Office or the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) may also be responsible. Furthermore, There may also be external responsibility for bodies of the European Union.
A disclosure of information about misconduct, e.g. B. via social media or to the press, is after Section 32 Paragraph 1 HinSchG only permitted under special conditions.
Further information on the jurisdiction of the BfJ and the HinSchG can be found at https://www.bundesjustizamt.de/DE/MeldestelledesBundes/MeldestelledesBundes_node.html.