ACCORDING TO TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL, LITHUANIA IS AMONG THOSE EU STATES THAT DO NOT ENSURE PROTECTION FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS
A study by Transparency International on the state of affairs of whistleblower protection in Euopean countries showed that Lithuania still finds itself amongst EU “outsiders” that lack or offer limited protection to whistleblowers. According to the researchers, Lithuania, together with Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia and Finland, guarantees almost no protection to those reporting on corrupt transgressions. Sixteen EU states offer protection only in part and only four EU states – Luxemburg, Romania, Slovenia and Great Britain – offer adequate protection to individuals reporting on corrupt dealings in their workplace.
Those reporting on corruption in Lithuania still risk not only losing their jobs, but also coming under psychological pressure; their friends and family may also be put at risk.
“Unfortunately, even though we have been offering methods and legal solutions for a long time now to ensure adequate protection for whistleblowers in Lithuania, courageous people that decide to report on the corruption witnessed at the workplace still risk to be left without any legal guarantees. Studies show that the Lithuanian public holds those individuals in positive regard, so all that remains is to ensure that they also receive legal protection” states Sergejus Muravjovas, the executive director of Transparency International Lithuanian Chapter.
The study evaluated the state of protection for whistleblowers in 27 EU Member States. The analysis of the state of affairs in Lithuania was carried out by Transparency International Lithuanian Chapter.
For more information, please contact: Rūta Mrazauskaitė, +37061524457