The protection of whistleblowers: Challenges and opportunities for local and regional government

Disclosing information in the public interest is fast becoming a critical safeguard of local and regional democracy and governance. Whistleblowers can provide urgent and much-needed checks in local and regional governance. Although more countries are now adopting legislation on whistle-blower protection, this protection remains underdeveloped at local and regional level.
This report provides an overview of the issues regarding whistleblowing, outlines the legal protection of whistleblowers in member States, examines the standards provided by international organisations and highlights challenges and opportunities for the local and regional protection of whistleblowing.
In its resolution, the Congress invites local and regional authorities to establish and disseminate a whistleblowing policy, with appropriate internal and anonymous reporting channels and to ensure that independent designated institutions exist to oversee and process the disclosure of information.
In its recommendation, it asks that national legislation provide for the protection of whistleblowers at the local and regional levels and proposes agencies at the national level to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of whistleblowing legislation.