• Qui Tam
  • SEC
  • CFTC
  • FCPA
  • Whistleblower Resources
  • FAQS
Subscribe
Donate
No Result
View All Result
Whistleblower Network News
The Truth at Any Cost.
Qui Tam, Compliance and Anti-Corruption News.
SIGN THE PETITION FOR NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DAY IN 2023
Whistleblower Network News
  • Qui Tam
  • SEC
  • CFTC
  • FCPA
  • Whistleblower Resources
  • FAQS
Subscribe
Donate
No Result
View All Result
Whistleblower Network News
No Result
View All Result
Home Global Whistleblowers

Fishrot Whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson Receives Prestigious Gothenburg Award

Mark WorthbyMark Worth
April 21, 2021
in Global Whistleblowers
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Fishrot Whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson Receives Prestigious Gothenburg Award
Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInEmail

Jóhannes Stefánsson, who risked his life to single-handedly expose one of the largest illegal fishing scandals in history, will receive the 2021 WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award, it was announced today.

While working for Iceland’s largest fishing company, Stefánsson collected memos, e-mails, financial records, photos and videos that revealed how Samherji paid millions of dollars in bribes to secure lucrative fishing rights in Namibia. The Fishrot scandal led to the arrests of many high-ranking politicians and business figures in Namibia, and criminal investigations in at least 27 countries.

As retaliation for exposing the crooks, Stefánsson was fired, harassed, threatened with prosecution – and he also believes he was poisoned. The Gothenburg Award’s prize of 1 million Swedish kronor ($120,000) will assist Stefánsson in receiving the medical treatment he has desperately needed since he first collapsed in agony in 2017. His health has been deteriorating ever since.

Support Whistleblower Network News

“When I realized the magnitude of the financial crimes and corruption – how serious the consequences for the Namibian people were – I never hesitated about what I had to do,” Stefánsson said today. “Therefore, it is a great honour to receive such recognition. It also means important financial support that enables us to continue this ongoing fight that is far from over.”

Founded in 2000, the Gothenburg Award recognizes significant contributions by people around the world who work to improve ecological, environmental and social conditions. It is given annually by a non-profit organization supported by the Swedish city of Gothenburg, the county of Västra Götaland, and several organizations and companies. Previous winners include former US Vice President Al Gore, former EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström, Colombian urban planner Enrique Peñalosa, and UK sustainable investment innovator Tessa Tennant.

Stefánsson will receive the award and monetary prize at a ceremony in Gothenburg scheduled for October 21.

Emma Dalväg, chairperson of the award’s jury, highly praised Stefánsson’s public service and selflessness.

“Unfortunately, those with the courage to fight corruption and misuse of power most often have to pay a steep price, and there’s no exception for Jóhannes Stefánsson,” Dalväg said today. “With an unfaltering determination, Stefánsson has defied reoccurring harassment, threats and attempts on his life to keep up his fight. This is an individual who has overthrown an entire industry and strengthened justice for the people; a real hero, in other words, who we are proud to present as this year’s winner.”

“We came to the conclusion that there is one big barrier to sustainable development – and that is corruption. And we realize the enormous importance of whistleblowers,” continued Dalväg. “We wanted to pinpoint how Sweden and other Western countries actually export corruption. This is a big problem. Maybe the companies are not doing it within our borders, but there are a lot of stories of Western companies doing corruption abroad. Fishrot highlights this.”

Originally broken by Wikileaks in November 2019, the Fishrot scandal has been extensively covered by Al Jazeera, OCCRP, Kveikur, and the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa. The Namibian produced one of the many documentaries on the case. Working with several whistleblower support organizations, Whistleblower Network News launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Stefánsson’s medical treatment.

Tags: InternationalInternational Whistleblowers
Previous Post

Whistleblowers Could Play Key Role in Enforcing Recently Reintroduced Climate Risk Disclosure Act

Next Post

Fred Whitehurst: WNN Exclusive Interview

Mark Worth

Mark Worth

Mark Worth is a whistleblower advocate, investigative journalist, public interest activist, author, and publisher. He is the Executive Director of the European Center for Whistleblower Rights and is the founder of many organizations, campaigns, and publications. Mark is the Co-recipient of the 1994 Investigative Reporters and Editors Award for best magazine article.

Next Post
Fred Whitehurst: WNN Exclusive Interview

Fred Whitehurst: WNN Exclusive Interview

Please login to join discussion

Receive Daily Alerts

Subscribe to receive daily breaking news and legislative developments sent to your inbox.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Most Popular

US Attorneys Reflect on UK’s Whistleblowing Awareness Week

OSHA Highlights Railroad Worker Whistleblower Protections in Wake of Train Derailments

AML Whistleblower Law Could Shift the Way DOJ Handles Whistleblowers

Two Powerful Women Whistleblower Pairs to Learn From This Women’s History Month

WNN Exclusive Interview with Social Security Whistleblowers Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith — Part 2

Change the Culture, Make National Whistleblower Day Permanent

Whistleblower Poll

Whistleblower Poll
Whistleblower Poll

Exclusive Marist Poll: Overwhelming Public Support Among Likely Voters For Increased Whistleblower Protections

byGeoff Schweller
October 6, 2020

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

STAY INFORMED.
Subscribe to receive breaking whistleblower updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Us

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Careers

Subscribe

  • Daily Mail
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • YouTube Channel

Contribute

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Reprint Guidelines

Your Experience

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Help

  • The Whistleblowers Handbook
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Advertise
Whistleblower Network News

Whistleblower Network News is an independent online newspaper providing our readers with up-to-date information on whistleblowing. Our goal is to be the best source of information on important qui tam, anti-corruption, compliance, and whistleblower law developments. 

Submit an Article

Copyright © 2021, Whistleblower Network News. All Rights Reserved.

This Newspaper/Web Site is made available by the publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this website, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Newspaper/Web Site publisher. The Newspaper/Web Site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

SIGN THE PETITION FOR NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DAY IN 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Exclusives
  • Government
    • False Claims-Qui Tam
    • Federal Employees
    • Intelligence
  • Corporate
    • CFTC & Commodities
    • Dodd-Frank
    • IRS & Tax
    • SEC & Securities
  • Features
  • Legislation
  • International
    • Foreign Corruption
  • Rewards
  • Whistleblower of the Week
  • Environment & Climate
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Employment
    • Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblowers
    • Retaliation
    • OSHA
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • National Whistleblower Day
  • Whistleblower Poll
  • Whistleblower Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Resources for Locating An Attorney
    • The New Whistleblowers Handbook
  • National Whistleblower Day ’23

Copyright © 2020, Whistleblower Network News. All Rights Reserved.

Become a Whistleblower Network News Subscriber

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Subscribe to WNN

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Subscribe to WNN

Add New Playlist

Go to mobile version