Jun232025

June 23: World Corruption Whistleblower Day

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

Jun102025

Professionals from all over Spain are trained with the AVAF and the INAP in corruption prevention.

València, June 9, 2025.- The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) has successfully completed the seventh edition of the course “Prevention of corruption in public administrations”, developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Public Administration (INAP). This training action, integrated into INAP’s continuous professional development program, has been carried out online between May 19 and June 9, 2025.

 

The course was attended by 80 people, selected from the 557 applications received for this edition, which shows the growing interest of public employees in acquiring tools to strengthen institutional integrity and prevent practices contrary to public ethics. This training, designed and taught by the AVAF since its first edition in October 2021, has established itself as a reference in its field.

 

The teaching team was made up of Anselm Bodoque, acting coordinator of the Area of Training, Participation, Communication and Relations with other entities of the AVAF, together with Pilar Moreno and Marita Oliver, training technicians of the Agency.

 

The participation in this edition has been diverse, with representation of professionals from organizations such as the Prado National Museum, the National Anti-Fraud Coordination Service, the National Commission of Markets and Competition, the General Intervention of the State Administration (IGAE), the Attorney General’s Office, the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music,  delegations from the Treasury, the Civil Guard, Provincial Traffic Headquarters, the Wage Guarantee Fund (FOGASA), the General Treasury of the Social Security, the Institute of Fiscal Studies, the State Agency Official State Gazette, as well as various local entities.

 

The sustained collaboration between INAP and AVAF reflects the joint commitment to promote a culture of integrity in public institutions and advance in the professionalization of public service in Spain.

 

Call for applications for director and manager positions at the Independent Authority for the Protection of Whistleblowers (IAW)

The Independent Authority for the Protection of Whistleblowers (IAW) announced on Saturday, May 31st, through the open selection process, the positions of director and manager of the institution.
If you are interested, within 10 calendar days (ending Tuesday, June 10th), you must submit your application, complete a self-assessment, and prepare for an interview.
The preparation of a management project (or report) is not required.

 

The AAI is taking advantage of the framework of Royal Decree-Law 6/2023, of December 19, which approves urgent measures for the implementation of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan in the areas of public justice, civil service, local government, and patronage, to reduce the submission deadline for applications where “…the figure of professional public management personnel is considered, determined by elements such as a leading role in the development of public policies and programs, acting in accordance with the criteria and direct instructions of the political tier, and with responsibility for their management and monitoring of compliance with the objectives proposed in the development of the action plans of the organization in which they perform their functions.”

 

The ministerial order implementing it establishes, “From the perspective of the principles of necessity and effectiveness, this is a necessary and appropriate instrument to serve the general interest and the effective implementation of the Government’s public policies in matters under the responsibility of the corresponding ministerial department or public body. Likewise, the regulation guarantees the principle of proportionality, as there is no other alternative to achieving the proposed objectives, and also the principle of legal certainty, as the text is consistent with the rest of the national legal system in order to generate an integrated and stable regulatory framework. Furthermore, it complies with the requirements of the principle of transparency, as the objectives of this ministerial order are clearly defined.”

 

Call for proposals published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on May 31, 2025 (Director) Correction of errors

Call for proposals published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on May 31, 2025 (Manager) Correction of errors