The VoiceGuard project has completed its training seminars in Spain, delivered by our partner FIBGAR. The two editions were aimed at people who manage reporting channels, advise whistleblowers, or work in legal, compliance and public administration roles. The first edition took place on 15 and 16 September 2026 and the second on 1 and 2 October. In total, 44 people took part: 30 in the first edition and 14 in the second.
The programme covered the fundamentals of whistleblower protection, Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and its transposition into Spanish law through Ley 2/2023, investigation procedures and support for whistleblowers, governance and the continuous improvement of reporting systems, and implementation in Spain. Alongside the presentations, participants worked through practical exercises and real-life cases, and took part in an organisational self-assessment in small groups, which the training team identified as one of the strongest moments of the seminar.
Participation was high in both editions. Questions designed to spark debate and group work brought together people with very different profiles (public administration, legal professionals, compliance officers, trade union representatives and civil society organisations) who shared real experiences and doubts. One participant joined from outside the European Union, which helped place the Spanish framework in a broader perspective.
Reporting wrongdoing remains a difficult decision. Fear of retaliation, distrust of reporting channels, and a lack of knowledge about rights and available routes mean that many irregularities are never reported. When that happens, it is the public interest that suffers: contracts awarded improperly, funds diverted, risks to health or safety, data breaches that nobody corrects in time.
Having a law is not enough. Ley 2/2023 requires many organisations to have an internal reporting system, but a channel that nobody knows about, that nobody trusts, or that is not managed rigorously protects no one. What is needed is training for those who receive and handle reports, independent investigation procedures, real guarantees of confidentiality, and effective measures against retaliation. Awareness is just as essential, so that people in an organisation know that channels exist, how to use them and what protection they offer. Protecting whistleblowers well also means building a culture of integrity, in which speaking up is seen as a contribution rather than a threat.
The training seminars are one part of VoiceGuard. The project continues with its support platform, which helps whistleblowers understand their rights and the reporting routes available to them, and with a support network of legal and psychological professionals they can turn to. The results and contributions gathered in these sessions will feed into the project’s final report and recommendations.
We thank everyone who took part for their time, engagement and ideas, and our trainers for their work. We will continue to share the next steps of the project on this website and on our social media channels.