WASHINGTON, D.C. | May 13, 2024 — Today, a coalition of anti-corruption organizations from across the globe sent an open letter to the United States Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco with recommendations for the Department of Justice (DOJ) whistleblower award program currently in development.
“We, the undersigned organizations, believe that a U.S. Department of Justice whistleblower rewards program has the potential to be instrumental to each of our anti-corruption efforts,” write the organizations, who are based in over twenty countries and work directly with whistleblowers and other anti-corruption actors.
“However, without careful consideration for the unique risks of international whistleblowers and without the implementation of the best-practice protocols identified above, this program could be damaging for international whistleblowers, and their catalytic role in transnational anti-corruption efforts,” the letter continues.
The best-practice protocols called for by the organizations include anonymous and confidential reporting channels, a dedicated Whistleblower Office, mandatory monetary awards and eligibility requirements modeled off the SEC Whistleblower Program. All of these elements are critical to the success of the United States’ Dodd-Frank whistleblower programs, which have brought in thousands of tips from international whistleblowers.
In April, National Whistleblower Center (NWC), which organized the letter, hosted a webinar “Establishing an Effective DOJ Whistleblower Rewards Program to Fight Corruption Worldwide.” NWC Executive Director Siri Nelson and Chairman Stephen M. Kohn discussed the transformative role the DOJ Whistleblower Program could play in global anti-corruption efforts if best-practices are implemented.
NWC Executive Director Siri Nelson is available for comment. For more information, contact NWC at info@whistleblowers.org.
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NWC is the leading nonprofit working with whistleblowers worldwide to fight corruption and protect people and the environment. For over 30 years, NWC has won policies to protect whistleblowers from retaliation and reward them for helping deliver criminal and civil penalties against wrongdoers
