On October 10, 2024, Transparency International Bulgaria held a working discussion with civil society representatives and journalists dedicated to the protection of whistleblowers. The event brought together professionals working in the fields of good governance, anti-corruption, and human rights protection.
Highlights of the Discussion
The main focus of the discussion was on key challenges and gaps in the legal framework, as well as the insufficient protection for whistleblowers despite the existence of the European Directive 2019/1937 and the national Whistleblower Protection Act.
Participants expressed concern that the legal framework often does not meet the practical needs of whistleblowers and emphasized the need for a broader understanding of the role of civil society and the media in providing support.
Another key topic was the stigmatization of whistleblowers, who are often perceived as “donostnitci.” Participants discussed ways to change public attitudes through better information and visibility, as well as the importance of creating a network of organizations prepared to advocate for whistleblower rights.
Next Steps for Joint Actions
As a result of the discussion, participants agreed on several specific steps for collaborative actions:
Advocacy cooperation with institutions to improve the legal framework and create a supportive environment for whistleblowers.
Development of mechanisms for legal and psychological support that are accessible to whistleblowers.
Promotion of legislative changes through joint advocacy aimed at addressing legislative gaps and providing better conditions for disclosing irregularities.
The working meeting concluded with a constructive dialogue between civil society, journalists, representatives of trade unions, consumer organizations, the Ministry of Justice, the Commission for Personal Data Protection, the Ombudsman’s office, and the National Legal Aid Bureau, who emphasized the importance of public protection and institutional engagement.
The event is part of the project “Legitimacy and Accountability for Better Protection of Whistleblowers (LAW),” implemented in partnership with Transparency International Romania and the National Integrity Agency of Romania, co-funded by the European Union’s “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values” (CERV) program.