Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection

The Coalition is the first and still only regional CSO that specialises in whistleblower cases, support, policymaking, monitoring, training and research. It is one of the largest and oldest anti-corruption networks in the Western Balkans, and has developed a reputation of integrity, top expertise and positive change.

Coalition members, partners and affiliates carry the banner for employees and citizens who report crime and corruption, by working to strengthen whistleblower rights and support their efforts to achieve justice. The Coalition strives to protect corruption witnesses from retaliation, ensure their reports of misconduct are thoroughly investigated, give whistleblowers the recognition they deserve, and nurture a speak-up culture within organisations and society.

Coalition members and partners include CSOs, media outlets, activists, independent journalists, researchers and anti-corruption experts. It maintains relationships with whistleblower caseworkers and anti-corruption officials at many public institutions. Coalition staff and members routinely collaborate with regional and international organisations, including the EU, OECD and Anti-Corruption Initiative. They have spoken at dozens of national, regional and international events over a decade. A Coalition staffer teachers the only master’s course on whistleblower policy and casework at the International Anti-Corruption Academy.

Coalition members and staff personally receive corruption reports from citizens, protect their identity, work to protect them from harm, and investigate the evidence they present. The Coalition monitors the performance of whistleblower protection mechanisms, trains caseworkers, shares expertise with many stakeholders, and coordinates with journalists to report on cases responsibly. The Coalition works to enhance public awareness and acceptance of whistleblowing by informing society about the essential contributions by whistleblowers to improve transparency and accountability in governments and corporations. Along with direct actions, the Coalition serves as a platform for sharing expertise and know-how with NGOs, policymakers, activists, researchers and others. The Coalition coordinates closely with the media to investigate and publicise whistleblower cases and stories.