Overview of whistleblower protection

2. International instruments and guidelines


International institutions such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Council of Europe have repeatedly pointed out that adequate protection of whistleblowers is a critical tool for addressing corruption and malpractice and for protecting the financial interests of the European Union. There have been several interventions aimed at urging States to adopt specific regulatory provisions on whistleblowing, and some protection standards have been included in international instruments and guidelines:

  • 2015 United Nations Convention against corruption (article 33): “Each State Party shall consider incorporating into its domestic legal system appropriate measures to provide protection against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention”.


Some NGOs and international organisations have developed guidelines and best practices for the creation of a comprehensive national framework for protecting whistleblowers: 


The European Court of Human Rights established that the protection of freedom of expression (article 10 ECHR) also extends to those persons (whistleblowers) who report to the dedicated authorities illegal behaviours occurring in the workplace, whether they are public or private employees.

Compare with the judgment Guja vs. Moldavia, no. 14277/14, sentence 12 February 2008.