Measures to protect whistleblowers and increase oversight of government surveillance are essential to restore public trust in government, the anti-corruption pressure group Transparency International said in a resolution passed by its 2013 Annual Membership Meeting.
The resolution called on governments to respect the right to privacy in safeguarding national security, saying there is a need for meaningful oversight of government surveillance activities. (See full resolution in the annex below)
“We call for universal protection of all whistleblowers who truthfully reveal abuses of state power from any retaliation,” said the resolution.
Transparency International also said whistleblowing “plays a key role in the fight against corruption”. This week, Transparency International published International Principles for Whistleblower Legislation, warning that the law in many countries fails to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.
Transparency International representatives from more than 100 countries met for the anti-corruption organisation’s annual meeting where they discussed the way forward in the fight against corruption.
The meeting also elected two International Board members. Incumbent Board member J. C. Weliamuna was re-elected to the International Board, and Natalia Soebagjo was elected as a new Board member. Transparency International’s International Board of Directors, consisting of 12 members, is led by Chair Huguette Labelle and Vice-Chair Akere Muna.
