To appreciate and recognize whistleblowers, June 23rd is dedicated annually around the world as World Whistleblower Day. This day is observed to acknowledge the value of whistleblowers who report misconduct in the workplace. To mark this year's World Whistleblower Day, the Whistleblower Protection Unit, in collaboration with Transparency Maldives, held a special ceremony and panel discussion.

The event commenced with remarks delivered by the President of the Human Rights Commission, Dr. Aishath Rameela. Highlighting the significance of observing such a day, President Dr. Rameela stated that this is not merely a symbolic commemoration, but an essential milestone on the path toward integrity and justice. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the brave individuals who stand up against corruption and undesirable acts that occur or could potentially occur within society. She further noted that whistleblowers make immense sacrifices for the nation, and their courage and unwavering resolve help identify numerous areas in need of reform, providing opportunities to rectify systemic flaws. Speaking on behalf of Transparency Maldives, Executive Director Aishath Rizna stated that one of the greatest challenges in combating and deterring corruption in the Maldives has been exposing acts such as theft of state assets, embezzlement, and bribery. She noted that avenues are now open to disclose such matters safely through the whistleblowing mechanisms established under the law.

The panel discussion conducted during the ceremony primarily focused on the importance of saying "no" to misconduct. Attended by representatives from numerous state-owned enterprises and government institutions, the panel featured Mariyam Rifna Latheef, Director General of the Whistleblower Protection Unit; Mariyam Thoola Rilwan, Senior Attorney at the Anti-Corruption Commission; Aminath Rifqa, Director of the Legal and Monitoring Department at the Human Rights Commission; and Mariyam Afrah Moosa, Senior Project Coordinator at Transparency Maldives.

To mark the occasion, awards were presented to the first- and second-place winners of the short video competition conducted by the Whistleblower Protection Unit, as well as to the winners of the online quiz competition.