A first for many public servants the advanced training on whistle blower protection for the public sector, took place on 4-6 September 2023 and was a continuation of a basic training that UNDP and Department of Justice and Attorney General had organized in October 2022.
The second training, a training of the trainers on whistleblower protection, was held on 7-8 September 2023 which saw participants facilitate trainings on whistleblower protection by themselves in their respective departments and agencies.
The capacity building workshops are a part of UNDP’s ongoing efforts to build the capacity of public officials to implement the Whistleblower Act 2020, which the Government of Papua New Guinea adopted in 2020 to help protect the rights and safety of persons reporting corruption and other misuses of power within public institutions.
The training included interactive sessions hosted by UNDP experts, the trainings equipped the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills for implementing the legislative provisions of the act.
In addition, the participants received guidance on establishing and maintaining a secure whistleblowing management system in public institutions, processing reports, and dealing with retaliation complaints.
UNDP Chief Technical Advisor, Dr. Alma Sedlar, stated at the end of the training stated that whistleblowing is essential not only for detecting fraud, corruption and misconduct, but also for promoting a culture of accountability and integrity that protects the interests of the public.
“We look forward to continuing our joint efforts with the Government of Papua New Guinea to create an enabling environment, where whistleblowers feel safe to report corruption and other forms of wrongdoing without fear of retaliation.”
She further added that corruption continues to hinder the efforts of Papua New Guinea to achieve its development goals.
Meanwhile the Deputy Secretary of DJAG, Josephine Pitmur in her closing remarks stated that they are grateful to UNDP for its commitment to building integrity across all Government agencies, not just at the national level, but also at provincial and district levels.