Parliament passes Whistleblower Protection Bill

The Parliament has passed the legislature presented by the Maldivian administration to award legal protection to whistleblowers.

The legislature was passed with the vote of 70 lawmakers this Tuesday.

Whistleblower Protection Bill was submitted to the Parliament on behalf of the Maldivian administration by Deputy Speaker, North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla.

It establishes failure to carry out a legal duty, a human rights violation, corruption, environmental protection violation and misuse or abuse of power as grounds for whistleblowing.

A whistleblower may reveal information regarding such an act through a wide range of mediums including letter, fax, message or phone call.

The legislature protects whistleblowers from being terminated, relieved of duties, suspended, or harassed and pressured for revealing such information.

Whistleblowers will also be awarded anonymity. The name, address, age and family of whistleblowers must be treated as confidential information, and they are under no legal obligation to prove his or her claim.

Stopping or harassing a person for attempting to or blowing the whistle is established as a criminal offense punishable by 6 months to 5 years in prison.