In September 2026, Transparency International Romania organised an online training session as part of the European project VoiceGuard. The event brought together 42 participants from public institutions, private companies, civil society organisations and academia, reflecting the importance of cooperation across sectors in strengthening whistleblower protection.
Participants represented a wide range of professional backgrounds, including public administration, legal services, compliance, human resources, management, entrepreneurship and civil society. This diversity of perspectives provided a valuable opportunity to explore how whistleblower protection mechanisms can be implemented in different organisational environments.
The training programme covered the fundamentals of whistleblower protection, Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and the applicable legal framework, reporting channels and confidentiality requirements, investigation procedures, protection against retaliation, and organisational governance. Particular attention was given to the practical challenges of receiving and handling reports, ensuring confidentiality, supporting whistleblowers and improving internal reporting mechanisms.
Alongside the theoretical sessions, the programme included practical exercises, discussions and an organisational self-assessment activity. These components were designed to encourage participants to reflect on existing reporting procedures, identify potential weaknesses and consider improvements that could strengthen whistleblower protection within their organisations. The session also addressed national implementation challenges and opportunities for exchanging good practices.
Despite the progress made in establishing legal frameworks for whistleblower protection, significant challenges remain. Fear of retaliation, limited awareness of reporting rights and procedures, and insufficient trust in reporting mechanisms can discourage individuals from speaking up about wrongdoing. Effective protection therefore requires more than legal compliance: organisations must establish accessible and confidential reporting channels, ensure fair and independent procedures, and provide meaningful support to those who report irregularities.
We thank all participants for their involvement and interest in strengthening whistleblowers protection. The session in Romania forms part of the broader VoiceGuard initiative, co-funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme.