Whistleblowers Need Protection From Own Governments - Dutch Lawmaker

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Pieter Omtzigt emphasized the need for whistleblowers to be protected in their own countries so as not to stifle critical information.

STRASBOURG, June 23 (Sputnik) – Whistleblowers should get proper protection from their governments as they are doing a great favor for transparency and shedding light on violations which would not have been seen otherwise, a Dutch senator said Tuesday.

"Whistleblowers warn against abuses, first internally, and if that doesn't work, they go public. They deserve protection against retaliation by their employers. And even more so, against criminal prosecution," Pieter Omtzigt said presenting his report on protection of whistleblowers to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Omtzigt chastised apparent corruption in the latest FIFA scandal and that whistleblowers might have been able to nip the problem in the bud before the scandal reached its present level, when several high-ranking FIFA officials were arrested on corruption charges, with 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids being investigated.

"If only FIFA had done what the whistleblowers disclosed, mainly corrupt practices, they might have assigned 2022 World Cup to another country than Qatar, and they would have done FIFA and all football playing and football lovers a great favor," he said. .................(more)

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