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Whistleblower Protection Crucial for Detecting Corruption and Misconduct in Pacific Island Countries

KIRIYAMA, Papua New Guinea - Establishing an effective reporting system that protects whistleblowers is essential for detecting wrongdoing at an early stage, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The Importance of Whistleblower Protection

In a recent report, the UNODC highlighted the importance of whistleblower protection in Pacific Island Countries (PICs), where corruption and other serious misconduct can have devastating effects on society.

Current Status of Whistleblower Protection in PICs

The report noted that while many PICs do not have stand-alone whistleblower protection laws, some countries are taking steps to protect whistleblowers. For example:

Australia’s Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 provides protections for whistleblowers who report corruption or maladministration.
The Solomon Islands’ Whistleblowers Protection Act 2018 protects against retaliation and requires employers to maintain confidentiality.

Challenges in Papua New Guinea

In contrast, Papua New Guinea’s Whistleblower Act 2020 has a narrower definition of “impropriety” that does not cover public interest issues such as health and safety or environmental damage. The law also lacks provisions for protecting the confidentiality of whistleblowers and does not provide immunity from civil or criminal liability.

Experts’ Views

Experts argue that whistleblower protection is crucial for detecting corruption and other serious wrongdoing, as employees are more likely to report misconduct if they know they can do so in a safe and secure manner. Recipients tasked with responding to whistleblower concerns must protect the identity of persons who make reports and organizations should protect whistleblowers from unjustified treatment.

UNODC Recommendations

The UNODC recommends that PICs introduce comprehensive stand-alone whistleblower protection laws to detect more cases of corruption and other serious wrongdoing, which can have harmful effects on society.

Key Quotes

“Establishing an effective reporting system which protects whistleblowers is recognized as one of the strongest measures to detect wrongdoing at an early stage,” said a UNODC spokesperson.
“By introducing a comprehensive stand-alone whistleblower protection law, PICs will be able to detect more cases of corruption and other serious wrongdoing, which can have devastating effects on society.”

Australia’s Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 provides protections for whistleblowers who report corruption or maladministration.
Solomon Islands’ Whistleblowers Protection Act 2018 protects against retaliation and requires employers to maintain confidentiality.
Papua New Guinea’s Whistleblower Act 2020 has a narrower definition of “impropriety” that does not cover public interest issues such as health and safety or environmental damage.

Contact

For more information, please contact the UNODC spokesperson at [insert email address] or [insert phone number].