whistleblowingCentrála Transparency International v Berlíne dnes zverejnila ostré stanovisko k návrhu slovenskej vlády radikálne oslabiť ochranu whistleblowerov.
Podľa hnutia, s pobočkami viac ako v sto krajinách sveta, by zrušenie nezávislého úradu a hroziace spätné odoberanie už priznanej ochrany:
- vážne podkopalo dôveru ľudí nahlasovať korupciu
- odporovalo európskej smernici o ochrane oznamovateľov
- ohrozilo oznamovateľov a oslabilo právny štát na Slovensku
Centrála Transparency zdôrazňuje, že ochrana whistleblowerov je jeden z pilierov fungujúcej demokracie. „Slovensko bolo roky vzorom v Európe pre pravidlá chrániace ľudí, ktorí upozorňujú na korupciu. Tento pokrok je teraz v ohrození.“
Centrála hnutia sa tak pridáva k znepokojeniu slovenskej občianskej aj odbornej verejnosti a vyzýva poslancov, aby tento škodlivý návrh nepodporili.
Celé stanovisko Centrály Transparency International:
Slovakia: concerning move to cut protection for whistleblowers
The Slovakian Parliament just approved fast-tracking a bill that could slash key rules to protect whistleblowers.
The bill, which will be voted on next week, would dismantle its Office for the Protection of Whistleblowers (WPO) in order to replace it with a new and weaker one. It would also introduce retroactive changes that would undermine legal certainty for more than 100 individuals who are already under protection, potentially putting them at risk of retaliation for calling out wrongdoing. These proposals contradict the EU Whistleblower Directive, and jeopardise Slovakia’s compliance with EU law.
For years, Slovakia has been a model in Europe for its rules to safeguard those who speak up against corruption. Thanks to these efforts, public trust in authorities and institutions has grown, and citizens‘ willingness to report wrongdoing to the WPO has been steadily increasing. This progress is now in danger of being lost.
Whistleblowers play a crucial role in safeguarding the public good by exposing wrongdoing, corruption and malpractice. For example, revealing fraudulent public spending can trigger action to improve oversight, so that public funds are used for services that benefit society, such as healthcare and environmental defences.
Our colleagues in Slovakia, along with other civil society groups, are warning that this move is not in the country’s national interest, and would not only erode institutional independence but could also and damage Slovakia’s standing within the European Union.
Transparency International and TI Slovakia are calling on Slovakian MPs not to support it. Protecting whistleblowers is protecting the rule of law. What is at stake next week is the integrity of Slovakia’s democracy.
Together with 28 organisations working on whistleblower protection worldwide, we have sent an open letter to the Slovak government and the parliament to withdraw the bill. Read it here: https://www.ewi.legal/blog/1wier2ogpsrlua0b50voiw1bl4oesx