The Whistleblowing Law, which entered into force on 1 May 2019, stipulates that everyone is entitled to blow the whistle in public interests on violations observed in the working environment in the public and private sector.
Whistleblowing – an opportunity for everyone to promote the lawful, fair, open and transparent functioning of the institution through the right to express one’s opinion freely.
Whistleblower – a natural person who provides information on a possible violation which may harm the public interests if the person considers this information to be true and it has become known to him or her while fulfilling the official duties or establishing legal relations related to the fulfilment of official duties.
The Whistleblower’s Report may be submitted to the competent authority:
- via an electronic form on the website www.trauksmescelejs.lv
- or by completing a form and sending it to the whistleblowers’ e-address of the institution or by submitting it in person.
The Law provides that the whistle may be blown also through an internal whistleblowing system. This means that any employee of an institution may be informed of any alleged violation of public interests in the operation of that institution in order to prevent it in time `before the reputation of the institution is compromised, it has incurred losses or the competent national authorities are involved. It is the possibility for employees to see potential infringements and, thanks to their professional knowledge and experience, to evaluate their hazards.
By means of an internal whistleblowing system, the report is closest to the “cause of the problem” and the concerns expressed can be evaluated promptly, as well as it is possible to prevent a possible violation or identify deficiencies of a systematic nature.
After receiving the whistleblower’s report, the whistleblower’s personal data shall be pseudonimised
The whistleblower’s personal data, the whistleblower’s report and the written or material evidence attached thereto, as well as the whistleblowing materials shall have the status of restricted access information.
Every person (institution) who has received or performs any activity with a whistleblower’s report shall have an obligation to ensure adequate protection of the whistleblower’s personal data. The whistleblower’s personal data may be transferred only to persons (institutions) who need it for the examination of the whistleblower’s report or for the examination of an infringement case on the basis thereof or for the protection of the whistleblower or his or her relatives. For more information about the whistleblower’s protection, please visit the website trauksmescelejs.lv, section on protection.
Contact persons of the institution may be contacted for advice on the possibility to blow the whistle or regarding the course of the examination of their report.
Whistleblowing facilities at the National Film Center:
E-mail: sanita.muceniece@nkc.gov.lv
Contact: Sanita Muceniece
Phone.: +371 6735 8878
For more information about whistleblowing, please visit www.trauksmescelejs.lv