PHRGE Publishes Whistleblower Guide to Bolster Human Rights Defenders Fighting Corruption and Abuse

08.07.24 — In “International Human Rights for Whistleblowers,” Northeastern Law’s Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) has for the first time collated key information about the wide range of international venues and mechanisms that may be accessed by whistleblowers seeking support and vindication for their claims.

Whistleblowers take on tremendous risk to their well-being when exposing an individual, employer, government or other actor’s wrongdoing. Whether identifying financial fraud or other abuses of power, whistleblowers face threats, humiliation, reputational damage and violations of their own rights by the often-powerful actors they have exposed. While domestic laws against corruption and abuse are well-established in the United States and many other nations, whistleblowers’ efforts also reinforce international standards of human rights.

“Corruption is one of the major threats to human rights worldwide,” observes Professor Martha Davis, faculty co-director of PHRGE, who worked with Northeastern Law student Andrew Curran ’26 to prepare the report. “Recognizing whistleblowers as human rights defenders is one way to acknowledge and support the important contributions that they make to realizing justice.”

Northeastern Law is known for its offerings on whistleblower law, graduating many leaders in the field. As Siri Turner ’19, executive director of the National Whistleblower Center, notes, “This report is an exciting contribution to the global discussion on whistleblowing worldwide. This overview is an in-depth reflection of how whistleblowing is a major factor in effective human rights regimes and supports a larger discussion on how human rights defenders and whistleblower advocates are one and the same. It was an honor to be consulted in the development of this important report.”