International Whistleblower Day Date in the current year: March 24, 2024

The term “whistleblower” refers to a person who exposes secretive information or activity within a public or private organization that is deemed not correct, unethical, or illegal. This includes, but is not limited to, violation of company policy, regulation or law, threat to national security or public interest, corruption, and fraud. A whistleblower’s accusations can be brought to people within the organization or to a third party outside of it, such as law enforcement, government, or the media.

Naturally, bringing allegations against an organization is risky, especially in the public sector. Whistleblowers may face various repercussions after reporting alleged wrongdoing, such as termination, social stigma, legal action, and even criminal charges. That is why many countries have whistleblower protection laws.

International Whistleblower Day was initiated by the Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection, a regional organization that investigates whistleblower cases, provides legal protection for whistleblowers, fights for their rights, and raises awareness of the contribution of whistleblowers to the fight against crime and corruption. It was created to help whistleblowers report important information, preserve their anonymity and protect them from revenge.

Rather than reporting crimes and acts of corruption directly to the appropriate authorities, whistleblowers are encouraged to contact the Coalition or one of its partner organizations (the Coalition comprises over 30 NGOs in 13 countries). The Coalition provides whistleblowers with a secure encrypted communication channel, which allows them to report information while maintaining anonymity. After that, the Coalition employees – activists, journalist and authorities – transfer the information to the appropriate authorities or make it public.

According to the Coalition, whistleblowers are the true guardians of truth and justice in our workplaces, communities and society in general. They are regular people who are not afraid to take risks to expose acts of corruption and crime in institutions and organizations. Thanks to whistleblowers, political parties and governments are more transparent, criminals are more likely to face justice, corporations are more accountable, vulnerable populations are better cared for, transportation is safer, and the environment is cleaner.

International Whistleblower Day was created to highlight the important contribution of whistleblowers to society, as well as to encourage people not to remain silent, but to take action against corruption, fraud, public health and environment threats. It should not be confused with World Whistleblowers Day, observed on June 23, and National Whistleblower Appreciation Day in the United States (July 30).