Pristina, 10 April 2024 – Organized by the Kosovo Law Institute (KLI), the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG), and the Southeast Europe Coalition for Whistleblower Protection, with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and programmatic funds from the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, the “Regional Conference on Whistleblower Protection, Justice Reform as a Catalyst for Strengthening the Rule of Law” is currently taking place, alongside the Annual Meeting of the Southeast Europe Coalition for Whistleblower Protection.
In his opening remarks, Ehat Miftaraj, Executive Director of KLI, emphasized that whistleblowing mechanisms not only fight corruption but also promote better governance, restoring citizens’ trust in public institutions.
Arjan Dyrmishi, Executive Director of CSDG, stated that despite positive developments in legislation and the establishment of systems for whistleblower investigations, much remains to be done. Corruption continues to be a major challenge in Southeast European countries, where it is higher than in other parts of Europe.
Jarmo Helppikangas from the EU Office in Kosovo highlighted the need for adequate protection for whistleblowers, noting a growing number of whistleblowers in Kosovo.
Nikola Naumovski, Senior Anti-Corruption Advisor at the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), stated that corruption reflects a lack of the rule of law, and that societies in the Balkans and Southeast Europe have treated anti-corruption as a priority for EU integration. He added that whistleblowing is one of the most effective methods to report and address these issues.
The keynote speaker at the opening was Gresa Caka Nimani, former Chair of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, who noted that whistleblowers represent courage in a world that often favors silence over accountability. According to her, whistleblowers are among the strongest defenders of democracy.
The conference continued with two discussion panels, covering topics such as:
- The role of international bodies and European integration — implementation of the EU Directive on Whistleblower Protection.
- National whistleblower protection laws — gaps, challenges, and best practices.
The first day of the conference will conclude with the screening of the documentary “Whistleblowers Against Corruption”, produced by Betimi për Drejtësi, at the University of Prizren “Ukshin Hoti.”
This two-day conference, which started today and continues tomorrow, has gathered participants from the region and beyond, including Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and other countries.