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

Jun112025

The Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency and IMSERSO promote public integrity through a training session

València, 11 june 2025.- Over 50 professionals from the Institute for the Elderly and Social Services (IMSERSO) participated in the training session “Integrity and the Fight Against Corruption: Law 2/2023,” organized by the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency (AVAF) as part of IMSERSO’s internal training plan for 2025.

 

The activity, delivered by the AVAF’s Training Department, included participation from staff of the IMSERSO’s Subdirectorate General for Planning, Organisation and Evaluation, as well as several national reference centers, including CEAPAT, the Rare Diseases Center in Burgos, the Center for the Recovery of People with Physical Disabilities (CRMF), and the Alzheimer and Other Dementias Center in Salamanca, among others.

 

Key topics covered during the session included the institutional integrity system, the importance of fostering a culture of integrity in public administration, major risks of fraud and corruption, and the whistleblower protection mechanisms established in Law 2/2023 on the protection of persons reporting regulatory violations and combating corruption.

 

The session concluded with a participatory workshop on conflict of interest, which allowed attendees to deepen their understanding of how to detect and properly manage such conflicts in the public sector.

 

Through this initiative, the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency strengthens its role in supporting and advising public institutions in the promotion of integrity—this time with IMSERSO, a body under the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030.

 

If you would like to provide your public administration with specialized training on integrity and anti-corruption, feel free to write to formacion@antifraucv.es

 

In the images: Anselm Bodoque, acting coordinator of the Training, Participation, Communication and Relations with Other Entities Area of the AVAF; Pilar Moreno, senior training officer at the Agency; and Marita Oliver, senior training officer at the AVAF.

 
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.