Today is GivingTuesday– a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations worldwide to encourage people to donate to the causes close to their heart. With your support NWC has made some incredible progress in advocating for whistleblower rights! We’re looking forward to celebrating them all in the NWC end-of-year report, but in the meantime, here are just a few highlights from 2017.
National Whistleblower Day Celebration 2017:
This year was the most successful National Whistleblower Day Celebration yet! Leading members of Congress, key government officials, and prominent whistleblowers all came together for the first time, in a historic celebration on the Hill to honor the courageous achievements of whistleblowers in exposing corruption, and chart a new course for the future of whistleblower policy in the United States.
Speakers included Senators Ron Wyden and Charles Grassley (co-chairs of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, a fact which speaks to the bipartisan nature of this issue), John C. Cruden (former Asst. Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division), and Representative Kathleen Rice (co-sponsor of the END Wildlife Protection Act and founding co-chair of the House Whistleblower Protection Caucus), among others. Watch the videos of this year’s speakers.
NWC’s Global Wildlife Whistleblower Program:
NWC wanted to find innovative ways to connect with wildlife crime whistleblowers around the world to push for real change on the ground, where wildlife trafficking and destruction actually occurs. After the program won grand prize in the USAID Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge, funding was used to launch the program’s informational website and the Secure Online Reporting System for wildlife crime whistleblowers in January 2017. Additionally, NWC did global outreach, partnering with many NGOs and created educational resources translated in 28 different languages. As this program continues to develop, NWC is confident 2018 will continue to bring in more wildlife crime whistleblower cases.
NWC in the Courts:
NWC has filed two amicus briefs on landmark whistleblower cases. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. v. Somers, Paul, will determine if whistleblowers who report misconduct internally are covered under the Dodd-Frank Act’s anti-retaliation law. This case is currently with the Supreme Court and could have a devastating impact on the rights of whistleblowers reporting corporations. NWC’s amicus brief was called “the most thought-provoking amicus brief” and a key contribution to the considerations of the Court.
The second amicus brief filed by NWC is before the Tenth Circuit in Genberg v. Porter. The Genberg case deals with the definition of reasonable belief under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).
The New Whistleblower’s Handbook 2017:
In July 2017, NWC’s Executive Director and leading whistleblower attorney, Stephen Kohn released the third edition of the first ever consumer guide to whistleblowing. It is an incredibly important time for us all to know our rights, and this easy to read step-by-step guide can help potential whistleblowers to navigate the complex labyrinth of U.S. whistleblower rules and procedures across every state. Order your copy now.
Further Reading:
- Find out more about the whistleblowers who spoke at the National Whistleblower Day Celebration 2017.