Vienna (Austria), 23 September 2024 – Various high-profile corporate scandals underscore the critical need for strong reporting procedures to foster a culture of integrity in organizations. Central to this effort is ensuring that whistle-blowers - who play a critical role in exposing fraud and corruption - are protected from retaliation. When employees feel safe and empowered to raise concerns without fear of reprisal, organizations can strengthen their integrity, build trust, and ultimately thrive in today’s complex business landscape.
On 16 July 2024, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Global Compact hosted the second thematic webinar under the Global Webinar Series on Business Integrity, entitled ‘Whistle-Blower Protection in Business.’ This webinar, which was live translated from English into French, Portuguese, and Spanish, drew over 1,200 participants from more than 100 countries to discuss how protecting whistle-blowers can promote ethical conduct in the workplace.
UNODC and the UN Global Compact shared perspectives on whistle-blower protection, complemented by real-life insights from experts and practitioners. A key takeaway was the recognition that companies with robust reporting systems and mechanisms for whistle-blower protections are more likely to detect misconduct earlier. Early detection can reduce financial losses and protect a company’s reputation.
The session also examined various regional legal frameworks along with challenges organizations face when implementing them. Speakers highlighted the importance of a ‘tone from the top’ to encourage transparency and accountability, with lively discussions held on the obstacles and risks faced by whistle-blowers as well as strategies for their mitigation.
The potential of leveraging new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve whistle-blower reporting mechanisms was also emphasized. Raymon Ram, Founder and Managing Principal of Malaysian forensic advisory firm Graymatter, noted that “AI blockchain technology and chatbots can enhance whistle-blowing reporting mechanisms, provide for confidentiality, improve efficiency and make it easier for investigators to prioritize cases based on risk urgency and severity”.
Additional insights were shared by Christian Hauser, Professor of Business Economics and International Management at the Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurship, University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons, Switzerland, and Brayan Sahid Sánchez Florez, Legal Chief at Agropecuaria Aliar, Colombia.
