Whistleblower's Role

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Corruption/”>Whistleblower Protection and the Fight against Corruption

Whistleblower protection is essential to encourage the reporting of misconduct, fraud and

corruption. The risk of corruption is significantly heightened in environments where the reporting of

wrongdoing is not supported or protected. This applies to both public and private sector environments,

especially in cases of bribery: Protecting public sector whistleblowers facilitates the reporting of

passive bribery, as well as the misuse of public funds, waste, fraud and other forms of corruption.

Protecting private sector whistleblowers facilitates the reporting of active bribery and other corrupt acts

committed by companies.

Encouraging and facilitating whistleblowing, in particular by providing effective legal protection

and clear guidance on reporting procedures, can also help authorities monitor compliance and detect

violations of anti-corruption laws. Providing effective protection for whistleblowers supports an open

organisational culture where employees are not only aware of how to report but also have confidence in

the reporting procedures. It also helps businesses prevent and detect bribery in commercial

transactions. The protection of both public and private sector whistleblowers from retaliation for

reporting in good faith suspected acts of corruption and other wrongdoing is therefore integral to efforts

to combat corruption, promote public sector Integrity and accountability, and support a clean business

Environment.

International instruments aimed at combating corruption have also recognised the importance of

having whistleblower protection laws in place as part of an effective anti-corruption framework.

Whistleblower protection requirements have been introduced in the United Nations Convention against

Corruption, the 2009 OECD Recommendation of the Council for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign

Public Officials in International Business Transactions (Anti-Bribery Recommendation),

the 1998 OECD Recommendation on Improving Ethical Conduct in Public Service , the Council of Europe

Civil and Criminal Law Conventions on Corruption, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption,

and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. Such provisions have

strengthened the international legal framework for countries to establish effective whistleblower

protection laws.

Clear legislation and an effective institutional framework are in place to protect from

discriminatory or disciplinary action employees who disclose in good faith and on reasonable

grounds certain suspected acts of wrongdoing or corruption to competent authorities.

Examples of best practices in support of this principle could include, inter alia:

Enactment of dedicated legislation in order to ensure legal certainty and clarity, and to

avoid a fragmented approach to establishing whistleblower protection;

Requirement or strong encouragement for companies to implement control measures to

provide for and facilitate whistleblowing (e.g. through internal controls, ethics and

compliance programmes, distinct anti-corruption programmes, fraud risk management,

etc.).

2. The legislation provides a clear definition of the scope of protected disclosures and of the

persons afforded protection under the law.

Examples of best practices in support of this principle could include, inter alia:

Protected disclosures include: a violation of law, rule, or regulation; gross

mismanagement; a gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; a substantial and specific

danger to public Health or safety; or types of wrongdoing that fall under the term

“corruption”, as defined under domestic law(s);

Individuals are not afforded whistleblower protection for disclosures that are prohibited

by domestic laws in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs,

unless the disclosures are made in the specific manner and to the specific entity/entities

those domestic laws require;

Public and private sector employees are afforded protection, including not only

permanent employees and public servants, but also consultants, contractors, temporary

employees, former employees, volunteers, etc.;

Clear definition of “good faith” or “reasonable belief”; although individuals are not

afforded protection for deliberately-made false disclosures, protection is afforded to an

individual who makes a disclosure based upon the individual’s reasonable belief that the

information disclosed evidenced one of the identified conditions in the statute, even if the

individual’s belief is incorrect.

3. The legislation ensures that the protection afforded to whistleblowers is robust and

comprehensive.

Examples of best practices in support of this principle could include, inter alia:

Due process for both parties (the whistleblower and the respondent), including, inter

alia, the need for protecting confidentiality;

Protection from any form of discriminatory or retaliatory personnel action, including

dismissal, suspension, or demotion; other disciplinary or corrective action; detail transfer,

or reassignment; performance evaluation; decision concerning pay, benefits, Awards,

Education or training; order to undergo medical test or examination; or any other

significant change in duties, responsibilities, or working conditions;

Protection from failure to take personnel actions, such as selection, reinstatement,

appointment, or promotion;

Protection from harassment, stigmatisation, threats, and any other form of retaliatory

action;

Protection from other forms of retaliatory conduct, including through waiver of

liability/protection from criminal and civil liability, particularly against defamation and

breach of confidentiality or official secrets laws;

Protection of identity through availability of anonymous reporting;
Clear indication that, upon a prima facie showing of whistleblower retaliation, the

employer has the burden of proving that measures taken to the detriment of the

whistleblower were motivated by reasons other than the disclosure;

Protection against disclosures an individual reasonably believes reveal wrongdoing even

if the whistleblower is incorrect”;

Protection of employees whom employers mistakenly believe to be whistleblowers.

4. The legislation clearly defines the procedures and prescribed channels for facilitating the

reporting of suspected acts of corruption, and encourages the use of protective and easily

accessible whistleblowing channels.

Examples of best practices in support of this principle could include, inter alia:
Provision of protection for disclosures made internally or externally;
Establishment of internal channels for reporting within the public sector;
Strong encouragement for companies to establish internal reporting channels;
Protection afforded to disclosures made directly to law enforcement authorities;
Specific channels and additional safeguards for dealing with national security or statesecrets-related disclosures;
Allowing reporting to external channels, including to media, civil Society organisations, etc.;
Incentives for whistleblowers to come forward, including through the expediency of theprocess, follow-up mechanisms, specific protection from whistleblower retaliation, etc.;
Positive reinforcements, including the possibility of financial rewards for whistleblowing;
Provision of information, advice and feedback to the whistleblower on action being taken in response to disclosures.

5. The legislation ensures that effective protection mechanisms are in place, including by

entrusting a specific body that is accountable and empowered with the responsibility of

receiving and investigating complaints of retaliation and/or improper investigation, and by

providing for a full range of remedies.

Examples of best practices in support of this principle could include, inter alia:

Appointment of an accountable whistleblower complaints body responsible for

investigating and prosecuting retaliatory, discriminatory, or disciplinary action taken

against whistleblowers who have reported in good faith and on reasonable grounds

suspected acts of corruption to competent authorities;

Rights of whistleblowers in court proceedings as an aggrieved party with an individual

right of action, and to have their “genuine day in court”;

Penalties for retaliation inflicted upon whistleblowers, whether this takes the form of

disciplinary or discriminatory action, of civil or criminal penalties.

6. Implementation of whistleblower protection legislation is supported by awareness-raising,

Communication, training and periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of the framework of

protection.

Examples of best practices in support of this principle could include, inter alia:

Promoting awareness of whistleblowing mechanisms, provide general advice, monitor

and periodically review the effectiveness of the whistleblowing framework, collect and

disseminate data, etc.;

Raising awareness with a view to changing cultural perceptions and public Attitude

towards whistleblowing, to be considered an act of loyalty to the organisation;

Training within the public sector to ensure managers are adequately trained to receive

reports, and to recognise and prevent occurrences of discriminatory and disciplinary

action taken against whistleblowers;

Requirement in the law that employers post and keep posted notices informing employees

of their rights in connection with protected disclosures

Brief overview of the benefits of public sector whistleblower protection

Encouraging the whistleblowing on acts of suspected corruption is essential in safeguarding

public interest and promoting a culture of public accountability and integrity. Public officials have

access to up-to-date information concerning their workplaces’ practices, and are usually the first to

recognise wrongdoings. In most jurisdictions, it is an obligation for them to report corruption and other

malpractices. However, public officials who report wrongdoings may be subject to intimidation,

harassment, dismissal and violence by their fellow officials or superiors. In many countries,

whistleblowing is even associated with treachery or spying.77 This notion may be the result of the

influence of cultural connotations and, in turn, may also have an impact on individual careers and on

the internal organisational culture.

As a result, encouragement of whistleblowing must be associated with the corresponding

protection for the whistleblower. In the public sector, public servants need to know what their rights and

obligations are in terms of exposing actual or suspected wrongdoing within the public service. These

should include clear rules and procedures for officials to follow, and a formal chain of responsibility.

Public servants also need to know what protection will be available to them in cases of exposing

wrongdoing.

Translating whistleblower protection into legislation legitimises and structures the

mechanisms under which public officials can disclose wrongdoings in the public sector,

protects public officials against reprisals, and, at the same time, encourages them to fulfil their

duties in performing efficient, transparent and high quality public service. If adequately implemented,

legislation protecting public sector whistleblowers can become one of the most effective tools to support

anti-corruption initiatives, detecting and combating corrupt acts, fraud and mismanagement in the

public sector.80 The absence of appropriate legislation impedes the fight against corruption and

exposes whistleblowers to risks of retaliation.

Although in some countries whistleblower protection is still in its infancy, it is increasingly

recognised as an essential anti-corruption mechanism and a key factor in promoting a culture of public

accountability and integrity. For example, in OECD countries between 2000 and 2009, legal protection

for whistleblowers grew from 44% to 66%.

Private sector whistleblower protection: Legal provisions and voluntary measures

Domestic legal provisions expressly devoted to the protection of whistleblowers in the private

sector are less common than for the public sector. However, the private sector is increasingly taking

voluntary measures to create internal channels for safely and confidentially reporting misconduct. This

could be for a number of reasons. An effective whistleblowing regime deters wrongdoing; facilitates the

reporting of misconduct without fear of retaliation; helps identify misconduct early on and thereby

prevent potentially grave disasters; and reduces the risk of potentially damaging external reports,

including to regulators or the media. Whistleblower protections are also an important element of an

internal controls, ethics and compliance programme, which—taken in the programme’s entirety—could

demonstrate to shareholders and law enforcement that a company has made efforts to prevent, detect

and address corrupt behaviour. This could be especially relevant to companies subject to the

jurisdiction of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws that include a defence against liability for certain

offences by having “adequate procedures” in place to prevent bribery, or where sentencing guidelines

provide more lenient sentences on companies with such programmes in place.

There is no consensus as to which approach works best for ensuring the protection of private

sector whistleblowers: enacting domestic legal provisions, promoting voluntary measures among the

private sector, or combining the two. For example, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) warns

against over-regulation of private sector whistleblowing regimes, emphasising that self-regulation and

voluntary integrity programmes provides for effective protection of corporate interests and adaptability

to different workplace environments.159 Others have argued that current legal provisions for private-

sector whistleblowers can be narrow, inconsistent and/or difficult to navigate160; for example when

legislation limits the scope of private sector employees afforded protection, or when multiples laws may

apply to the same persons.

Whistleblowers and protection of sources

The Survey indicated that whistleblowers are often the first source of information for

journalists reporting on corruption stories. Whistleblowers turn to journalists for various

reasons including to protect their identity, to bring issues of concern to the attention of the

public or government, or in the absence of effective responses by law enforcement or

employers. One journalist noted that reporting to the media can be more effective for a

whistleblower than reporting to law enforcement. While criminal proceedings

can take years to reach a conclusion, a journalist can draft and publish a story

within days that can reach a global readership through Social Media platforms.

New technology means that journalists can communicate with their sources via

encrypted communication platforms (e.g. Signal), which can protect the

whistleblower’s identity. However, journalists acknowledged the significant

risks to sources as a result of non-existent or vastly inadequate whistleblower

protection frameworks in many countries. Even in countries with whistleblower

protection laws, protection rarely extends to whistleblowers who report directly to the

media.13 54% of respondents considered protection of sources a concern when interacting

with law enforcement authorities in corruption cases. One journalist referred to an

ongoing administrative case between the media outlet and tax authorities, where the tax

authorities were compelling production of Panama Papers documents and editorial

material which, if disclosed, would reveal sources. For this journalist, the case

highlighted the lack of seriousness with which the authorities treated the protection of

sources. Some journalists were concerned about government surveillance or other

attempts to seek the identity of their sources; others approached law enforcement for

assistance with source protection, presumably in criminal cases where sources were

receiving physical threats from other perpetrators.

Whistleblower protection was considered the second most valuable support for journalists

investigating corruption (63%), behind strong editorial board backing (77%). Journalists also

noted that their sources can also work for law enforcement agencies, and considered that these

sources should be protected as any other whistleblower. The media plays a potentially vital

role in de-stigmatising whistleblower reporting. For example, referring to a “leak” when

breaking a story based on information provided by a whistleblower (particularly an insider),

can serve to reinforce perceptions that the whistleblower was acting unethically or illegally in

providing such information. The role of whistleblowers and whistleblower protection in

detecting foreig

A whistleblower is someone who reports wrongdoing within an organization. This can include illegal activity, unethical behavior, or simply poor management. Whistleblowers often face retaliation from their employers, so it is important to be aware of the risks before reporting wrongdoing. However, whistleblowers can also play a vital role in protecting the public from harm.

If you believe you have witnessed wrongdoing, you should first gather evidence to support your claims. This evidence can include documents, emails, or even eyewitness testimony. Once you have gathered evidence, you should report the wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. This could be the police, a government agency, or even the media.

It is important to protect yourself when reporting wrongdoing. This means keeping your identity confidential and documenting all of your interactions with the authorities. You should also be prepared for retaliation from your employer. This could include being fired, demoted, or harassed.

If you are a whistleblower, it is important to follow up on your report. This means making sure that the authorities are investigating your claims and that appropriate action is being taken. You should also be prepared to testify in court if necessary.

Whistleblowing can be a difficult and risky process, but it is often necessary to protect the public from harm. If you believe you have witnessed wrongdoing, you should report it to the appropriate authorities.

Table of Contents

Identifying wrongdoing

The first step in whistleblowing is to identify wrongdoing. This can be difficult, as wrongdoing can often be hidden or disguised. However, there are a few things you can look for to help you identify wrongdoing.

One sign of wrongdoing is a pattern of behavior that seems to be inconsistent with the organization’s stated values or goals. For example, if an organization claims to be committed to environmental sustainability, but its employees are regularly caught littering, this could be a sign of wrongdoing.

Another sign of wrongdoing is a lack of transparency. If an organization is not willing to share information about its activities or finances, this could be a sign that it is trying to hide something.

Finally, if you have concerns about the safety or well-being of employees or customers, this could be a sign of wrongdoing. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, it’s important to speak up.

Gathering evidence

Once you have identified wrongdoing, you need to gather evidence to support your claims. This evidence can include documents, emails, or even eyewitness testimony. If you have access to documents or emails that show wrongdoing, you should print them out or save them to a secure location. If you have witnessed wrongdoing, you should write down what you saw and when you saw it. You should also try to get statements from other witnesses.

It is important to gather as much evidence as possible to support your claims. The more evidence you have, the more likely it is that your claims will be taken seriously.

Reporting wrongdoing

Once you have gathered evidence, you need to report the wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. This could be the police, a government agency, or even the media. If you are not sure who to report the wrongdoing to, you can contact an organization that specializes in helping whistleblowers.

When you report the wrongdoing, you should be prepared to provide the authorities with your evidence. You should also be prepared to answer questions about your claims. It is important to be honest and accurate in your reporting.

Protecting yourself

Whistleblowers often face retaliation from their employers. This retaliation can include being fired, demoted, or harassed. It is important to protect yourself from retaliation when you report wrongdoing.

One way to protect yourself is to keep your identity confidential. You can do this by reporting the wrongdoing anonymously. You can also ask the authorities to keep your identity confidential.

Another way to protect yourself is to document all of your interactions with the authorities. This includes keeping copies of all emails, letters, and phone calls. You should also keep a record of any retaliation you experience.

If you are facing retaliation, you should contact an attorney. An attorney can help you protect your rights and can represent you in court if necessary.

Following up

Once you have reported the wrongdoing, it is important to follow up on your report. This means making sure that the authorities are investigating your claims and that appropriate action is being taken. You should also be prepared to testify in court if necessary.

Following up on your report is important because it shows that you are serious about your claims. It also helps to ensure that the authorities take your claims seriously.

What is a whistleblower?

A whistleblower is someone who exposes wrongdoing within an organization, such as fraud, corruption, or illegal activity.

What are the benefits of whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing can help to expose wrongdoing and prevent harm to individuals or the public. It can also lead to positive changes within organizations, such as improved safety or compliance practices.

What are the risks of whistleblowing?

Whistleblowers may face retaliation from their employers, including being fired, demoted, or harassed. They may also face legal challenges, such as defamation lawsuits.

What are the laws that protect whistleblowers?

There are a number of laws in the United States that protect whistleblowers, including the False Claims Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer protection Act. These laws provide whistleblowers with a number of protections, such as the right to remain anonymous and the right to be free from retaliation.

How can I report wrongdoing?

If you have witnessed wrongdoing, you can report it to a number of different organizations, such as the government, a law enforcement agency, or a media outlet. You can also report it to a whistleblower hotline, which is a confidential way to report wrongdoing.

What are some tips for whistleblowers?

If you are considering blowing the whistle, it is important to be prepared. You should gather evidence of the wrongdoing, such as documents or emails. You should also talk to an attorney to discuss your legal Options. It is also important to be aware of the risks of whistleblowing and to take steps to protect yourself, such as keeping your identity confidential.

What are some Resources for whistleblowers?

There are a number of resources available to whistleblowers, such as the National Whistleblower Center and the Government Accountability Project. These organizations can provide legal assistance, financial assistance, and other support to whistleblowers.

Sure, here are some multiple choice questions about the topics of whistleblowing, ethics, and Corporate Governance:

Which of the following is NOT a reason why someone might blow the whistle?
(A) To expose wrongdoing
(B) To get revenge on a company
(C) To improve the company’s practices
(D) To make Money
Which of the following is the most common reason why whistleblowers are retaliated against?
(A) They are fired
(B) They are demoted
(C) They are harassed
(D) They are threatened
Which of the following is the best way to protect yourself if you are thinking about blowing the whistle?
(A) Talk to a lawyer
(B) Talk to a union representative
(C) Talk to a journalist
(D) Talk to a government agency
Which of the following is the best way to prevent whistleblowing?
(A) Create a culture of openness and transparency
(B) Have strong ethics and compliance programs in place
(C) Provide employees with training on whistleblowing
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is the best way to deal with a whistleblower?
(A) Listen to them
(B) Investigate their claims
(C) Take action if necessary
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is NOT a type of corporate governance?
(A) INTERNAL CONTROL
(B) Auditing
(C) Compliance
(D) Whistleblowing
Which of the following is the most important goal of corporate governance?
(A) To protect shareholders
(B) To protect employees
(C) To protect the environment
(D) To protect the public interest
Which of the following is the best way to improve corporate governance?
(A) Increase transparency
(B) Increase accountability
(C) Increase independence
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is the best way to prevent corporate scandals?
(A) Have strong ethics and compliance programs in place
(B) Have independent directors
(C) Have a strong audit committee
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is the best way to deal with a corporate scandal?
(A) Investigate the scandal
(B) Take action to address the problems
(C) Communicate with stakeholders
(D) All of the above