Call for participation: One-day training for lawyers on whistleblowing and whistle-blower protection

The African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) is a non-governmental organisation that focuses on media, information, research, advocacy and training. It aims to promote media and information literacy as a key component in the enhancement of democracy and good governance and the promotion of accountability and orderly society. 

As part of its good governance initiative, AFRICMIL is implementing a whistle-blower support programme tagged Corruption Anonymous. The project seeks to build public confidence in and support for the new Whistle Blower Initiative of the Nigerian government and advocate for clear rules and guidelines for the safety of whistle-blowers. This we believe will contribute to active citizens’ involvement and accelerate implementation of the new policy.  

This project is being implemented with the support of The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 

Under the Corruption Anonymous project, AFRICMIL will train lawyers on rudiments of whistleblowing and handling whistle-blower cases, at a one-day workshop scheduled to hold in Abuja on April 26, 2018.

Work objectives include:

• To identify critical stakeholders in the promotion of the whistle blowers programme within the legal profession.
• To train legal practitioners by providing guidance on how to protect whistle blower, methods and strategies for legal defence, procedures to secure protection of whistle blowers.
• To encourage and facilitate disclosure of misconduct and corrupt practices in the public and private sectors.
• To ensure that whistle blowers who make public interest disclosures are legally supported and protected from adverse consequences.
• To ensure that whistle blowers’ disclosures are properly investigated and dealt with by the appropriate public and private bodies.
• To raise awareness and to stimulate actions to support and implement the Federal Government of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Finance’s Whistle Blowers Programme.
• To facilitate the creation of a Lawyers’ Network on Whistleblower Protection

Eligibility

• Applicants must be public interest lawyers with record of public interest advocacy or litigation.
• Applicants should have a minimum of two years of post-Call experience.
• Be ready to join other public interest lawyers to form a network of lawyers to support whistle-blowers.

Lawyers interested in participating in this workshop are requested to submit a one-page application and biodata/CV on or before Friday, April 20, 2018.

AFRICMIL will provide a modest honorarium to cover transport costs.

Applications and biodata/CV should be submitted as email attachments to [email protected]

Please note that AFRICMIL is not able to cater for participants from outside Abuja for this training.