World Whistleblowers Day 2024: Role of Strong Whistleblower Protection Law in the Promotion of Transparency and Good Governance.
World Whistleblowers Day 2024: Role of Strong Whistleblower Protection Law in the Promotion of Transparency and Good Governance.
Date: Monday, June 23, 2024
Venue: District Umerkot, Sindh Province & District Multan, Punjab Province
On World Whistleblowers Day (WWD) 2024 celebrated on June 23, 2024, Transparency International Pakistan organized two events in collaboration with Sukkar Welfare Organization in District Umerkot, Sindh Province, and Youth Employability Network (YEN) in District Multan, Punjab Province.
The main objective of the advocacy events was to enhance civil society awareness on Whistleblower Protection laws and drive collective effort for the adaption of WB laws in Sindh and Punjab Provinces. A total of 67 participants including 23 females and 44 males from CSOs, media, government departments, youth and persons with disabilities participated in the two events.
Mr. Shiva Ram, Program Manager, Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), District Umerkot, and Ms. Zahra Sajjad Zaidi, Youth Employability Network District Multan, spoke on the importance of Whistleblower Protection Laws in the fight against corruption. They highlighted that for the progress of integrity and eliminating corruption from the country and fostering an environment where citizens can report misconduct without fear of retaliation, effective whistleblower protection laws are essential.
They defined that whistleblowing is an act of identifying red flags and irregularities and WB laws protect those individuals who expose illegal, unethical, or improper behavior within an organization without the fear of retaliation. WB protection promotes the disclosure of wrongdoing by providing safeguards and, in some cases, incentives to whistleblowers. They highlighted that in Pakistan, at federal level and in three provinces (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan), whistleblower protection laws are missing. The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has passed Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act 2016, however, the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission as mandated under Section 3 of the Act, has not been established yet.
Moving on, Mr. Muhammad Bux, Advocate and Executive Director of Sukkar Welfare Organization District Umerkot, Sindh Province and Mr. Jam Asif Iqbal Advocate High Court District Multan, Punjab Province, spoke on the Challenges faced by whistleblowers/Complainants and highlighted supportive resources available to them. They explained that whistleblowers who uncover misconduct, fraud, or illegal activities within organizations or governments often encounter substantial challenges and risks. These include retaliation such as job loss, demotion, harassment, or isolation from colleagues, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression due to the pressure of confronting powerful entities and potential public exposure. Additionally, many organizations lack internal mechanisms to protect whistleblowers or may actively discourage reporting.
They also highlighted the important role of Advocacy and Legal Advice Centers (ALACs) run by Transparency International Pakistan in providing necessary support to the victims and witnesses of corruption. ALACs offer confidential legal advice and support to individuals, including whistleblowers, who report corruption.
Next, Mr. Nand Lal, Deputy Director Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal, Multan Punjab highlighted the critical role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in pushing for advocacy on the implementation of Whistleblowers Laws. He highlighted that CSOs have the power to amplify voices, advocate for systemic reforms and promote transparency and ethical practices. CSOs can also push for stronger whistleblower protection laws and accountability measures in both public and private sectors, ensuring environments where whistleblowers can report wrongdoing safely and without fear of retaliation.
Towards the end, Mr. Rana Irfan ul Islam, editor of Daily Pakistan, emphasized on the role of media in pushing the government to legislate on WB laws in the country. He highlighted that the media has the power to pick up cases, conduct detailed investigations and bring to the fore the facts before the authorities for appropriate action. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of the media in promoting whistleblower protection laws, which can encourage individuals to come forward with information about corruption and misconduct without fear of retaliation At the end of the session, participants appreciated the awareness session on whistleblower laws and deliberated on the ways to advocate with the provincial governments.
