Prishtina, 12\/10\/2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FOL Movement, within the framework of the Anti-Corruption Week, organized an important roundtable discussion on the topic: \u201cWhistleblowers from a Practical Perspective\u201d, where the challenges and difficulties faced by whistleblowers, as well as their essential role in the fight against corruption, were addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Director of the FOL Movement, Ms. Mexhide Demolli-Nimani, who moderated the discussion, said that whistleblowing as a powerful mechanism for combating corruption and for reporting other illegal acts and actions, is particularly important in a society where citizens’ trust in public institutions is weak and is constantly challenged. According to her, the act of whistleblowing becomes a courageous act and a means to challenge injustices, contributing to the protection of the public interest and the fight against abuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhistleblowing does not only represent an act of reporting; he is a courageous voice for building a system that respects democratic values \u200b\u200band the rule of law. Whistleblowers, who often take risks to denounce abuses and misuses, as well as withstand great pressures, are those individuals who refuse to remain silent in the face of misuses and act as guardians of the public interest\u201d, said Ms. Demolli-Nimani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this discussion, Ms. Makfirete Dibrani, Head of the Regional River Basin Authority (ARPL), revealed for the first time her story about the whistleblowing she made about the millions of euros of misuses in this ministry, sharing her experience in reporting misuses related to the forgiveness of debts of water bottlers by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms. Dibrani highlighted the challenges and difficulties she faced during the whistleblowing process, as well as the consequences suffered after denouncing this case. She shared the assessment of the importance of legal protection for whistleblowers and the need to provide institutional support for those who denounce abuses and corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking about the consequences of her reporting, she said, among other things, \u201cIt was not an easy path at all, because I dared to denounce the misuse of citizens\u2019 taxes. I began to experience extraordinary pressure to intervene in the decision-making process. I faced disciplinary committees, with written warnings from the person who is in detention because of my denunciation. These attempts to remove and discredit me did not end there. It was a period filled with stress to protect not only my personal integrity. I faced all of this to stop public abuses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms. Dibrani also spoke about the threats and sabotage she had suffered from her superiors, as a result of reporting. \u201cOne of the most obvious forms of discrimination was my exclusion from study visits inside and outside the country and other issues to sabotage my professional development. The leader who abused public taxes had obliged my colleagues to ignore me. This was a way to get me out of the job, but I remained steadfast,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also said that she is proud that she did not give in to the difficulties and pressure. She also called for the protection of whistleblowers, who do not ask for privileges but only the protection provided by the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, Ms. Dibrani publicly signaled another issue within the ministry. \u201cI will also report on the cleaning of water beds and capital projects that have been awarded recently. Both projects are divided into 2 million and 4 hundred thousand euros, many thousands of times more expensive than Croatia.\u201d According to her, we dare to make such concessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, Mr. Yll Buleshkaj, said that we have officials of the institutions who are responsible for handling whistleblowers, as well as officials of the agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhistleblowing is considered an individual courage, and moreover it is an action that serves the collective interest. In this way we call on everyone not to be just listeners and discussants, but to participate in reporting. Citizens\u2019 trust in institutions is not gained only through words, but also through deeds. The implementation of legislation, regardless of whether it is the best in the world, seems to lack the context of Kosovo\u2019s circumstances. We have practical problems in its implementation,\u201d said Buleshkaj.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gzim Shala, senior researcher at the Kosovo Law Institute, said that if a government, an institution or an enterprise truly has the primary goal of fighting corruption, it will see whistleblowers as useful and not as enemies of the institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe need for political will to protect whistleblowers. The level of political will to protect whistleblowers is equivalent to the level that a government, a certain institution has to fight corruption. If a government, an institution, an enterprise truly has the primary goal of fighting corruption, it will naturally see whistleblowers as useful and not as enemies of the institution\u201d, said Shala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this roundtable, FOL also published the Brochure \u201cObstacles to the Effective Implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Law\u201d, which contains FOL\u2019s activities in advocating for the implementation of this law, as well as the main challenges and obstacles to the implementation of this law, encountered by FOL during this monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n