From time to time significant whistleblower cases from other countries come to our attention. They will be listed here.
Whistleblowing Canada learned of the following case while attending the International Whistleblowing Research Network (IWRN) in Utrecht in June 2019. It concerns a whistleblowing case from the Office of United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This whistleblower did battle within the UN's justice system for approximately 15 years until she was finally vindicated and a settlement was reached. It has implications for Canadians as Canadian Taxpayers contribute millions to the UN.
The US's Government Accountability Project put out the following Media Release on June 5, 2018:
Longest-running UN Whistleblower Case Ends with Settlement and UNHCR Statement of Regret
June 5th, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GENEVA – A fifteen-year retaliation case ended today when Caroline Hunt-Matthes, former Senior Investigator at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), settled out of court. After challenging the UNHCR Inspector General’s Office and senior management by insisting on proper investigations of sexual exploitation and abuse, Ms. Hunt-Matthes was subjected to retaliatory termination of her contract. Today, she and her former employer, UNHCR, issued the following joint statement:
“UNHCR accepts that there were matters which in hindsight could have been better managed in relation to the separation. It is a matter of regret that these issues and the lengthy delays have impacted upon Ms. Hunt-Matthes’ employment and personal life. In the interests of both parties in seeing this matter resolved, a mutually satisfactory settlement has been reached today.”
For the full story see the Government Accountabily Project's web site.
The Guardian
Christopher Knaus, Thu 6 Jun 2019 02.35 BST
Whistleblower protections 'a sham', says lawyer whose leaks led to ABC raids
The military lawyer whose leaks prompted this week’s police raids on the ABC has criticised Australia’s whistleblower protections as a “sham”, saying the government is acting like a “totalitarian regime” to shield itself from criticism.
David McBride is facing lengthy jail time for providing documents to the public broadcaster on the conduct of special forces in Afghanistan, which prompted the Wednesday raids.
McBride is far from alone in his plight. Witness K and Bernard Collaery, who revealed Australia’s unlawful 2004 spy operation against Timor-Leste, are facing two years behind bars for their actions, and the Australian Taxation Office whistleblower, Richard Boyle, is facing a lengthy jail sentence for exposing aggressive debt collection tactics that were destroying the lives of vulnerable taxpayers.