June 23: World Corruption Whistleblower Day

Press release

València, 23 june 2025.- Today, June 23, is the World Day of the Corruption Whistleblower. The civic value of the day lies in the collective importance of defending those who denounce irregularities and contribute to the defence of the general interest. Whistleblowers, whistleblowers or informants often face situations of harassment at work and social that, in many cases, also have an impact on their personal and family life. And until recently, they did not have public mechanisms for advice, support and preventive protection.

 

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) was the first public institution in Spain to have a specific legal mandate in 2016 for the protection of whistleblowers of fraud and corruption. Even before Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law was approved.

 

In addition, since 30 May, the Agency has been the independent whistleblower protection authority of the Valencian Community and has the scope of application and functions provided for in Law 2/2003, of 20 February, regulating the protection of people who report regulatory breaches and the fight against corruption.

 

In its eight years of history, the AVAF has guaranteed the right to receive legal advice to any person who reports or denounces facts that may correspond to situations of corruption or fraud, regardless of whether they have been formally recognized as a protected person. In the exercise of this right, during 2024, the AVAF provided a total of 91 legal advice to whistleblowers.

 

In this regard, since 2016, the Agency has granted protection status to 35 natural persons and one legal person. In addition, in 2024, a further step has been taken in the comprehensive whistleblower protection system, becoming the first Spanish institution to offer psychological support to people protected by fraud and corruption alerts.

 

At the General Assembly on 12 and 13 June of the European Network of Independent Authorities for the Protection of Whistleblowers (NEIWA), the work of the AVAF in the protection of whistleblowers was recognised. The meeting also approved the Brussels Declaration, which reaffirms the principles of independence and cooperation shared by NEIWA members for the effective defence of whistleblowers and urges states to strengthen technical warning systems and guarantees for the protection of whistleblowers.

 

The full text of the statement can be consulted at the following link:

https://www.mediateurfederal.be/sites/default/files/2025-06/NEIWA-10th-General-Assembly-Brussels-Declaration-13.06.2025-final.pdf

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency participates in the Infoparticipa Seals 2024 award

Press release

València, 26 may 2025.- On Monday, May 26, the Infoparticipa Seals for transparency and participation in local public communication in the Valencian Community, corresponding to the year 2024, were awarded at CEU Cardenal Herrera University (CEU UCH). The municipalities of Gandia, Onda, València, Elx-Elche, Santa Pola, Gata de Gorgos, Dénia, Riba-roja de Túria, Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre, Tous, and Bicorp, as well as the provincial councils of Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón, met the required percentage of indicators over the past year to receive these recognitions for transparency, applying the Infoparticipa Map methodology.


This analysis is carried out annually by researchers from the Governance, Transparency and CSR Observatory of CEU UCH, and has been conducted for the past seven years.

 

The event, held at the university’s Auditorium on the Alfara del Patriarca campus, was presided over by CEU UCH rector Higinio Marín, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer Alicia López Castellano, the Regional Secretary for Institutional Relations and Transparency of the Generalitat Valenciana, Santiago Lumbreras Peláez, and the Director of the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF), Eduardo Beut, who also presented the awards.

 

All details about the Infoparticipa Seals 2024 ceremony are available at the following link:
https://medios.uchceu.es/actualidad-ceu/la-ceu-uch-entrega-los-sellos-infoparticipa-a-once-ayuntamientos-valencianos-y-a-las-tres-diputaciones/

 

https://medios.uchceu.es/actualidad-ceu/la-ceu-uch-entrega-los-sellos-infoparticipa-a-once-ayuntamientos-valencianos-y-a-las-tres-diputaciones/

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency approves the code of ethics and conduct for its staff and will create an Ethics Committee

Press release

València, 23 may, 2025.- The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) has approved its code of ethics and conduct to provide its staff, including people who exercise managerial functions, with a set of values and principles of action that serve as a guide for their work and public activity with a perspective of public integrity.

 

The Code is structured in eight parts. It highlights as a central axis the establishment of ethical principles, essential values and standards of conduct that must guide both the staff and the management of the Agency in the exercise of their functions.

 

It is stressed that the code is not a general provision, as corresponds to this type of document, but is a tool for the commitment of all staff at the service of the Agency with shared values and good practices in the management of public resources.

 

In line with this commitment, the AVAF will include in the specifications of administrative clauses in the field of procurement, in the terms and conditions of the call for subsidies and in the agreements it signs, the need to respect the ethical and conduct principles to which the activity of contractor companies, natural or legal persons benefiting from subsidies and entities that sign agreements must be adapted.

 

Monitoring compliance with the Code is the responsibility of the Ethics Committee, which is the advisory body responsible for common criteria for the interpretation of the values, principles and obligations established in this Code. Its reports and recommendations, as well as any action carried out within its competences, will be of a consultative and guiding nature.

 

The Committee is composed of three members. An external person of recognised prestige in the field of public ethics, appointed by the Management at the proposal of the Ethics Committee; an AVAF official from groups A1 or A2, and an AVAF official from groups C1, C2 or B. The members of the Committee belonging to the Agency will be chosen by public lottery.

 

The Agency will provide its staff with appropriate training to expand their theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of public integrity.

 

The Code of Ethics is available on the Agency’s website and can be consulted at:

https://www.antifraucv.es/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Publc-DOGV-num-10113_CAS.pdf