Organizers: Government Accountability Project, Pištaljka, Global Civil Society Coalition for the UNCAC
Speakers:
- Louise Portas, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- Vladimir Radomirović, Editor in Chief of Pištaljka and Co-Chair of the UNCAC Coalition’s Working Group on Whistleblower Protection;
Background
The adoption of UNCAC Conference of the States Parties resolution 10/8 on the protection of reporting persons in December 2023 marked an important step towards strengthening the protection of those who report corruption. Building on three years of implementation of the resolution, the side event will explore the broader ecosystem of actors who play a critical role in detecting, reporting and exposing corruption, including whistle-blowers, investigative journalists and civil society organizations, and consider how their respective roles and protection needs can be better recognized and addressed.
Particular attention will be given to the nexus between whistleblowers and investigative journalists, recognizing their complementary and often interconnected roles in bringing corruption to light. The discussion will examine how journalists may serve as recipients of disclosures, facilitate reporting and contribute to exposing wrongdoing, while also facing risks of retaliation, intimidation, legal harassment and other forms of reprisals. It will explore shared challenges and opportunities for strengthening protection frameworks, safeguarding the confidentiality of sources, addressing gaps in existing safeguards and fostering cooperation among the different actors involved in exposing corruption.
Looking ahead to the twelfth session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP12), the event will provide an opportunity for representatives of States Parties, international organizations and civil society to exchange perspectives on how the UNCAC framework and the commitments reflected in resolution 10/8 could serve as a foundation for further international action. Discussions will seek to identify common priorities and explore the potential for advancing the protection of corruption detectors through future policy commitments, international cooperation and, potentially, a new CoSP resolution.
