Whistleblowing Impact

Whistleblowing is a vital tool for promoting transparency and accountability, particularly in the fight against corruption and unethical behaviour. Its effectiveness, however, depends on being accessible and inclusive for all groups, especially those facing additional barriers such as women, racialized communities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. These groups often experience obstacles like fear of retaliation, discrimination, and the absence of safe and trusted reporting channels.

During this session, findings and best practices from the BRIGHT project (CERV-101143234) will be presented, drawing on recent research that assesses the effectiveness of gender and intersectional approaches to whistleblowing across the European civil society landscape. The discussion will also introduce a novel tool for measuring and evaluating organizational and institutional culture through a gender and intersectionality lens.

Transparency International, through the SAFE4Whistleblowers project (CERV-101143007), will present a new background paper that draws on a literature review and case studies to explore how gender and other intersecting factors influence individuals’ experiences when reporting wrongdoing. It examines why certain groups may face greater risks or barriers when speaking up. Building on this analysis, it identifies best practices and recommendations to promote gender-sensitive and inclusive whistleblowing environments that empower everyone to speak up safely.