Though 2025 might be winding down, the National Whistleblower Center’s (NWC) activities are amping up, particularly regarding its upcoming participation at the 11th Session of the Conference of the State Parties (CoSP11) (or CoSP to the United Nations Convention on Anti-Corruption (UNCAC) in Doha, Qatar from December 14–19.

As previously discussed, NWC will send a delegation to CoSP11 to advance the global fight against corruption by championing strong, reward-based whistleblower laws and uniting international support behind them.

This Sunday Read will provide an update on NWC’s strategy, which is rooted in a new proposal, Enhancing Foreign Bribery and Money Laundering Prosecutions. This proposal is already attracting widespread international support. We will also explore other published objectives for CoSP11 and the depth of NWC’s presence onsite in Qatar.

Why NWC’s Proposal Matters

Enhancing Foreign Bribery and Money Laundering Prosecutions is a cornerstone of NWC’s educational campaign to spread awareness about whistleblowers’ rights under transnational whistleblower laws and to advocate for the adoption of U.S.-style whistleblower laws across the world (such as rewards programs).

This proposal is crucial for effective international anti-corruption policy. It is designed to protect individual whistleblowers, but also to embolden them as powerful partners in exposing and prosecuting transnational bribery, money laundering, and related crimes.

Corruption remains a pervasive threat, undermining justice, democracy, economic development, and the environment on a global scale. Traditional enforcement tools are often woefully inadequate for exposing complex, cross-border financial crimes.

“Whistleblowers—those with inside knowledge—are the single most effective source for uncovering such activities, yet they have often acted at great risk, without sufficient incentive or protection,” said NWC Founder and Chairman of the Board Stephen M. Kohn, and key architect of the proposal. “The NWC’s draft proposal directly confronts this by calling for internationally harmonized whistleblower rewards programs based on best practices proven in the United States.

Key Objectives

The proposal urges States Parties to:

• Implement substantial civil penalties for corrupt entities and require full disgorgement of ill-gotten gains.
• Enact whistleblower award laws that guarantee meaningful compensation—incentivizing qualified individuals to come forward while mandating strong protections for their identity and safety.
• Allocate a portion of collected fines to compensate victims and whistleblowers, while investing in civil society and law enforcement capacity.
• Set clear criteria for whistleblower eligibility and ensure minimum payments of at least 10% of recovered proceeds.
• Promote public education so people know their rights under transnational whistleblower laws and understand how to report across borders when necessary for greater safety or effectiveness.

Respected Signatories Supporting Global Reform

NWC is honored to be joined by signatories who share a vision for a more transparent, accountable world.

NGOs have signed on from countries all over the world including Angola, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Switzerland, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and Yemen.

A sample of the endorsees demonstrates NWC’s impact and how the fight against corruption is a shared goal of global and civic leadership.

“These initial signatories already include a diverse coalition of civil society organizations, legal experts, and anti-corruption advocates from around the world,” said Kohn, who was recently named to Forbes’ annual list of America’s Top Lawyers for the second consecutive year. “Their endorsement underscores the urgency of international alignment on mobilizing and protecting whistleblowers in the fight against corruption.

The (growing) list of signatories can be found on the draft proposal, which also draws from Kohn’s Reverse Marshall Plan. To review, support, and sign the proposal, or to learn more about this transformative initiative, visit the NWC’s official campaign page. By lending your endorsement, you and your organization can join a growing movement positioned to bolster anti-corruption laws at CoSP11—and beyond.

Making an Additional ‘Statement’

NWC submitted a statement to UNCAC ahead of CoSP, titled Putting Teeth into Enforcing Anti-Corruption Laws.

The statement calls for urgent international action to enact stronger anti-corruption enforcement through robust whistleblower protections and reward programs. NWC highlights that despite the existence of powerful enforcement laws, too many states have not adopted empirically proven models which incentivize safe, confidential reporting—and as a result, corruption flourishes and whistleblowers remain dangerously exposed.

The statement emphasizes the success of U.S. laws like the Dodd-Frank Act, which have triggered over $25 billion in sanctions against corrupt multinational corporations, and have paid billions to whistleblowers—all while maintaining strict confidentiality for thousands of informants globally. These laws have helped uncover and prosecute misconduct across more than 135 countries through strong international cooperation.

“This strategy is highly effective for NWC’s presence at CoSP11,” noted Kohn. “It unites empirical validation with a clear call for reform, drawing on real-world case studies and international best practices. NWC’s advocacy offers a concrete blueprint proven to work, enabling global anti-corruption efforts to become more just and impactful through empowering whistleblowers.”

Learn more about NWC’s statement at www.whistle-blower.com.

NWC’s CoSP Panel Teaser

“Uncovering Corruption” will be CoSP’s theme on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 and NWC intends to lead a 60-minute side panel discussion, “Advancing Effective Protection and Mobilization for Accountability.” More details on this session and the day’s agenda will soon be finalized and revealed.

Subscribe to the Sunday Read series for more CoSP11 coverage.

Nov. 18 Webinar: Legal Resources for NGOs and Journalists

On November 18, NWC and International Whistleblower Advocates will jointly present, “How NGOs and Journalists Can Use Transnational Whistleblower Laws To Combat or Expose Corruption.”

Moderated by award-winning investigative journalist, author, and Confluence Media founder Josy Joseph, this webinar will explain how non-governmental organizations, investigative journalists, human rights defenders, and whistleblowers can confidentially use transnational anti-corruption laws to successfully prosecute corrupt officials and obtain awards in the process.

Kohn will be a featured panelist, along with whistleblower lawyer and Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto Associate Kayla Svihovec. Learn more and register for this free event.

For Whistleblowers Seeking Representation

The decision to come forward is not one to be taken lightly, nor should selecting a whistleblower lawyer. NWC provides resources that can connect you with the right legal professional prior to taking any action.

Support NWC

NWC works tirelessly to strengthen whistleblower programs and educate the public about their value. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our work relies on donors like you.

💙 Donate today to help us continue advocating for whistleblowers.

🎁 Special Offers: Donors of $50 or more will receive a free copy of Stephen M. Kohn’s latest book, Rules For Whistleblowers: A Handbook For Doing What’s Right.

🎁 Donors of $100+ will receive Rules For Whistleblowers and an exclusive NWC t-shirt.

This article was written by Justin Smulison, a professional writer, podcaster, and event host based in New York.