Today, GAP released a report detailing ten representative whistleblower cases from the United Nations and its funds, programs and agencies. The report examines the institution’s failure to implement best practices for the protection of whistleblowers, in violation of the 2014 U.S. Consolidated Appropriations Act. According to that law, 15 percent of the U.S. contribution to the United Nations or any of its agencies shall not be obligated until the State Department reports to Congress that the respective institution is implementing best practices for whistleblower protection.
GAP’s report, which was written in June 2014 and shared with Congress at that time, details the consistent failure of the United Nations and its funds, programs and agencies to protect whistleblowers from retaliation. It examines representative whistleblower cases in depth and summarizes the U.N.’s failure to protect each whistleblower and/or to effectively respond to his or her disclosure. Although there are additional cases that could have been included, GAP chose to focus on particularly egregious cases where the whistleblower was vindicated in at least one forum or was unable to bring a case at all due to shortcomings in the organization’s whistleblower policy.
Until the United Nations acts on the disclosures made by these whistleblowers and provides them with comprehensive relief that eliminates the effects of proven retaliation, the State Department cannot, in good faith, certify that the United Nations is implementing best practices in whistleblower protection. GAP urges the Secretary-General and U.N. agency heads to take action to help these whistleblowers.
The full report can be read here.
Shelley Walden is International Program Consultant for GAP.