Whistleblower Protection Blog : Whistleblower Lawyer & Attorney : National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund : Whistleblower Protection, Fraud Claims : Washington DC

Yesterday, Transparency International (TI) released a practical guide for combating corruption in relief and reconstruction efforts.

“Disasters like the catastrophe in Haiti highlight the absolute necessity of ensuring that the funds and supplies allocated actually reach those in need. Corruption in emergency aid is a matter of life and death. Stopping and preventing corruption should be a strategic priority for the humanitarian community,” said Christiaan Poortman, Global Programmes Director at TI.

Strong whistleblowing mechanisms are recommended as the best way to stop corruption and ensure that humanitarian aid gets where it needs to go.  The report states that a “confidential and independent mechanism (whether internal or exernal) helps create an environment intolerant of corruption, in which staff feel safe to blow the whistle without fear of reprisal.”  TI recommends that whistleblowing actually be made a staff duty and if an investigation finds corruption, the agency must take action to ensure that staff trust the whistleblowing process to correct their complaints (Pages 19-20).

For entire report please click here.

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I have received calls and emails asking why the NWC supports UBS whistleblower Brad Birkenfeld.  This article published on Forbes.com helps answer that question.  Mr. Birkenfeld, like countless other employees, blew the whistle because he believed it was the right thing to do.  When Mr. Birkenfeld’s multiple efforts to correct the problem internally failed, he resigned.  However, Mr. Birkenfeld did not stop there. He voluntarily approached the federal government to report the UBS tax fraud scheme. Some of the steps he took occurred before the IRS passed its whistleblower reward programs.  Unfortunately, instead of protecting Mr. Birkenfeld, the Department of Justice (DOJ) chose to prosecute him.  Mr. Birkenfeld will be starting a 40-month sentence on January 8, 2010.  The precedent set by the DOJ treatment of Mr. Birkenfeld has sent a chilling message to future whistleblowers. Please take a minute to read “Whistleblowing: A Get-Rich-Quick Scheme?” and then TAKE ACTION by demanding that Attorney General Holder immediately and independently review Mr. Birkenfeld’s case.

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