Protection of whistleblowers in Albania: Legislation and the actual practice

Focus Group Discussion, 26.09.2013, Tiranë

The Institute for Democracy and Mediation organized on 16th of September 2013 a focus group to discus on the protection of whistleblowers in Albania, the legislation and the actual practice. The focus group was organized within the framework of the research project “Improve and Strengthen Implementation of Whistleblowers in Albania.

” funded by Konrad Adenauer Foundation and implemented by IDM.

Participants in the focus group included representatives from the People’s Advocate, the Supreme State Control Audit Institution, the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination, the Commissioner for Protection of Personal Data, the General Prosecutor Office and journalists. It aimed to gather the participant’s opinion regarding the actual practice of the whistleblowing instrument in the Albanian framework.

The focus group discussion revealed that the knowledge concerning whistleblowing and its practice in the Albanian context were limited. Nevertheless, participants expressed the view that introducing this instrument as a practice in the Albanian context constitutes a positive initiative that would help to strengthen the principles of good governance and transparence in Albania. The main findings of this focus group will be incorporated to a study on whistleblowers that will be presented at a national conference on the 15th of November 2013.