Transparency International's weekly newsletter and supplement to our Daily Corruption News, 23 June 2017

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Hi there,

Today (23 June) is World Whistleblower Day, which honours the everyday people who expose wrongdoing and corruption in favour of the public interest. Often, they do so at considerable personal risk. Even in countries and institutions with good whistleblower protection in place, a person's decision to report misconduct, fraud or other infractions is seldom an easy path to take. In short, it takes guts to be a whistleblower.

How do whistleblowers help? Among a plethora of examples, it was whistleblowers who revealed:

Without whistleblowers, who will reveal the next abuses of power?

Around the world, Transparency International is working to make it easier for people to blow the whistle. Many of our national chapters run legal advice centres where witnesses of corruption can report it and receive support. We've promoted better whistleblowing laws and researched how best to enable people to speak up. We are currently pushing for EU-wide legislation to shield whistleblowers, and will continue to raise awareness in support of courageous whistleblowers.

You can help: sign this petition calling for EU-wide whistleblower protection.

 

News from Transparency International

Illustration of Obiang
 

On trial for corruption: Teodoro Obiang, son of the president of Equatorial Guinea

In the first case brought by civil society in France Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of the president of Equatorial Guinea, is on trial for corruption. It has taken a decade of arguments, a change to French law and a crowdfunding campaign to ensure the witnesses could travel to Paris. Learn more about the case!

 

Corruption in the news this week

Focus on secret state surveillance

Mexico: Using texts as lures, government spyware targets Mexican journalists and their families
New York Times (19 June)

Mexico’s most prominent human rights lawyers, journalists and anti-corruption activists have been targeted by advanced spyware sold to the Mexican government on the condition that it be used only to investigate criminals and terrorists.

 
USA: Ex-Panamanian president seeks release from U.S. custody to fight extradition to homeland
Miami Herald (20 June)

Martinelli’s lawyer asked a Miami federal judge Tuesday to release the 65-year-old businessman on bond while he fights his extradition on charges of misusing millions in Panamanian government money to pay for a spying operation against his political enemies.

 

In step with the times...

Australia: Government plans to introduce new laws to protect and reward whistleblowers
ABC News (23 June)
 
Ireland: Gsoc to staff up as whistleblower gardai number rises
Irish Times (22 June)
 

... and lost in another era

Global: Ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter: Whistleblowing is 'not correct'
ESPN (19 June)
 
USA: VA whistleblower who testified in Congress stripped of job duties in Atlanta
Washington Examiner (19 June)
 

Other news

Global: Fifa’s anti-corruption efforts criticised after speedy clearing of Gianni Infantino
The Guardian (TI mention, 23 June)
 
Global: Amid Gulf blockade of Qatar, attempts to muzzle Al-Jazeera are likely to fail
CNBC (23 June)
 
Global: Trump company’s partners in India are no strangers to legal entanglements
Washington Post (TI mention, 23 June)
 
Brazil: Brazil federal police find evidence of president receiving bribes
Jurist (21 June)
 
Mongolia: Corruption scandals muddy Mongolia's presidential vote
Agence France-Presse (22 June)
 
South Korea: Ousted South Korean president's confidante Choi Soon-sil sentenced
CNN (23 June)
 

Blogs and opinion

Global: Teddy Obiang on trial in Paris for embezzlement
FCPA Blog (TI mention, 22 June)
 
Nigeria: Bribery and election rigging stand trial in Nigeria
Council on Foreign Relations (20 June)
 

Want to join the fight against corruption? Check out our job opportunities.

 

Let us know what you think of this newsletter by emailing newsletter@transparency.org. We'll be in touch next week!

 
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