International Whistleblower Advocacy Groups File Public Comment with Latvian Government

Latvia, Latvia flag, Latvia whistleblower laws

A coalition of international whistleblower advocacy groups has filed a public comment with Latvia’s government, providing suggestions for strengthening the country’s first whistleblower law passed in 2019.

The coalition, consisting of the National Whistleblower CenterWhistleblowing International, the European Center for Whistleblower Rights, and whistleblower law firm Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto, urged Latvian lawmakers to implement whistleblower protection laws in legislation created to fulfill a recent European Union directive.

The Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law provides guidances for EU Member States to adopt whistleblower protection laws. The Directive also requires that each Member State “bring into force the laws, regulations, and administrative provisions” by December 2021.

Attorneys at Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto came up with a list of recommendations, including:

The Directive establishes “common minimum standards” for Member States to follow when creating and updating whistleblower legislation; however, the Directive also offers that the Member States “could decide to extend the application of national provisions to other areas with a view to ensuring that there is a comprehensive and coherent whistleblower protection framework at national level.” Thus, Stephen M. Kohn, a partner in the whistleblower law firm of Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto, LLP, suggests that the Latvian government go beyond the Directive standards.

“Latvia has the ability to build upon its 2019 whistleblower law and provide incentives whistleblowers to risk their careers by reporting violations of law. Whistleblowers are the key detecting frauds. They must be fully protected,” Kohn said.

Latvia passed a whistleblower law in 2019 and “several hundred whistleblower reports” were filed within the first year of its existence, although only 25% of the reports “meet the criteria,” according to Latvian Public Broadcasting.

Exit mobile version