Establishing a Different Dimension of Citizen Security: The Case for Special Protection for Whistleblowers

Abstract

The notion of citizens’ security has usually been viewed primarily as a binary relationship between the State and the citizen in a Rousseauesque interpretation. This article argues for a broader conception of citizens’ security focussing on the right to “blow the whistle” in an employment context. We believe that with the growing importance of global business in society it is imperative that special measures are designed for this important class of citizens. A failure to do so, in our opinion, is likely to harm the maintenance of effective protection, especially in developing countries, to the detriment of citizens’ security.

Share and Cite:

Lewis, D. and Castellino, J. (2013) Establishing a Different Dimension of Citizen Security: The Case for Special Protection for Whistleblowers. Beijing Law Review, 4, 185-197. doi: 10.4236/blr.2013.44024.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Agalgatti, B., & Krishna, S. (2004). Business Ethics (Concepts and Practices) (4th ed.). Pune: Nirali Prakashan.
[2] Alston, P. (1984). Conjuring up new human rights: A proposal for quality control. American Journal of International Law, 78, 607-621.
[3] An-Na’im, A. A., Madigan, A., & Minkley, G. (1997). Cultural transformations and human rights in Africa: A preliminary report. Emory International Law Review, 11, 287-350
[4] Australian Senate Select Committee on Public Interest Whistleblowing, (1994). In the Public Interest AGPS, Canberra.
[5] Bales, K. (2005). Understanding global slavery: A reader. London: University of California Press.
[6] Bingham, L. J. (1992). The inquiry into the supervision of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. London: HMSO.
[7] British Standards Institute (2008). Code of practice on whistleblowing arrangements. London: PAS.
[8] Brown, A. (2008). Whistleblowing in the Australian public sector. Canberra: Australian National University.
[9] Bruce, V., & Young, A. (1998). In the eye of the Beholder: The science of face perception. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[10] Bunch, C. (1990). Women’s rights as human rights: Towards a re-vision of human rights. Human Rights Quarterly, 12, 486-498.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/762496
[11] Capotorti, F. (1977). Special Rapporteur. Study on the Rights of Persons Belonging to Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. UN.
[12] Carr, I., & Lewis, D. (2010). Combating corruption through employment law and whistleblower protection. Industrial Law Journal, 39, 1-30.
[13] Castellino, J., & Domínguez Redondo, E. (2006). Minority rights in Asia: A comparative legal analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199296057.001.0001
[14] Castellino, J. (2006). A re-examination of the international convention for the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. Revista Iberoamericana de Derechos Humanos, 2, 1-29.
[15] Charlesworth, H., Chinkin, C., & Wright, S. (1991). Feminist Approaches to international law. American Journal of International Law, 85, 613-645. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2203269
[16] Clapham, A. (2006). Human rights obligations of non-state actors. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199288465.001.0001
[17] Clinton, H. R. (2002). Women’s rights are human rights. Human Rights, 29, 2.
[18] Council of Europe’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (2009). Report to the Parliamentary Assembly “The protection of whistle-blowers”. Strasbourg, Doc. 12006.
[19] Craven, M. (2003). Unity, diversity and the fragmentation of international law. Finnish Yearbook of International Law, 14, 3-34.
[20] Cripps, Y. (1994). The legal implications of disclosure in the public interest: An analysis of prohibitions and protections. London: Sweet & Maxwell.
[21] Department of Transport (1987). Court of Enquiry No 8074. London: HMSO.
[22] Domínguez Redondo, E. (2005). Los procedimientos públicos especiales de la comisión de derechos humanos de Naciones Unidas. Valencia: Tirant Lo Blanch.
[23] Donnelly, J. (2007). International Human Rights (3rd ed.). London: Perseus Book Group.
[24] Donoho, D. L. (1990-1991). Relativism versus universalism in human rights: The search for meaningful standards. Stanford Journal of International Law, 27, 345-392.
[25] Durham, H. (2002). Women, armed conflict and international law. International Review of the Red Cross, 847, 655-659.
[26] Flanagan, R. (2008). The (fiduciary) duty of fidelity. Law Quarterly Review, 124, 274-298.
[27] Francioni, F. (2007). Access to justice as a human right. New York: Oxford University Press.
[28] Gardam, J., & Jarvis, M. (2001). Women, armed conflict and international law. The Hague: Kluwer Law International.
[29] Glazer, M., & Glazer, B. (1989). The whistleblowers: Exposing corruption in government and industry. New York: Basic Books.
[30] Heyes, A., & Kapur, S. (2009). An economic model of whistle-blower policy. Journal of Law, Economics & Organisations, 25, 157-182.
[31] Higgins, R. (2006). A Babel of judicial voices? Ruminations from the bench. International & Comparative Law Quarterly, 55, 791-804.
[32] Hurst, M. (1972). Key treaties of the great powers, 1814-1914. California: David & Charles Press.
[33] International Council for Human Rights Policy (2009). Corruption and Human Rights: Making the Connection.
http://www.ichrp.org/files/reports/40/131_web.pdf
[34] Jeter, L. (2003). Disconnected: Deceit and Betrayal at WorldCom. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
[35] Jubb, P. (1999). Whistleblowing: A restrictive definition and interpretation. Journal of Business Ethics, 21, 77-94.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1005922701763
[36] Koskenniemi, M., & Leino, P. (2002). Fragmentation of international law? Postmodern anxieties. Leiden Journal of International Law, 15, 553-579.
[37] Koskenniemi, M. (2001). The gentle civilizer of nations: The rise and fall of international law 1870-1960. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511494222
[38] Lewis, D. (2005). Providing rights for whistleblowers: Would an antidiscrimination model be more effective? Industrial Law Journal, 34, 239-252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/indlaw/dwi020
[39] Lewis, D. (2006). The contents of whistleblowing/confidential reporting procedures in the UK: Some lessons from empirical research. Employee Relations, 28, 76-86.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01425450610633073
[40] Lewis, D. (2001). Whistleblowing at work: On what principles should legislation be based? Industrial Law Journal, 30, 169-193.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ilj/30.2.169
[41] Lewis, D. (2011). Whistleblowing in a changed legal climate: Is it time to revisit our approach to trust and loyalty at the workplace? Business Ethics: A European Review, 20, 71-87.
[42] Lewis, H. (1995). Between irua and female genital mutilation: Feminist human rights discourses and the cultural divide. Harvard Human Rights Journal, 8, 1-56.
[43] Miceli, M., Near, J., & Dworkin, T. (2008). Whistle-blowing in organizations. New York: Routledge.
[44] Minow, M. (1987). Interpreting rights: An essay for rober cover. Yale Law Journal, 96, 1860-1915. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/796400
[45] Morsink, J. (2009). Inherent human rights: Philosophical roots of the universal declaration. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.
[46] Morsink, J. (1999). The universal declaration of human rights: Origins, drafting and intent. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press
[47] Otto, D. (2009). The exile of inclusion: Reflections on gender issues in international law over the last decade. Melbourne Journal of International Law, 10, 11-26
[48] Park, H. (2008). Cultural orientation and attitudes toward different forms of whistleblowing. Journal of Business Ethics, 82, 929-939.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9603-1
[49] Public inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster. (1990). CM 1310 HMSO, London.
[50] Resnik, J. (2001-2002). Categorical federalism: Jurisdiction, gender and the globe. Yale Law Journal, 111, 619-680.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/797544
[51] Rhode, D. L. (2004). Access to justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[52] Richardson, H. J. (1978). Self-determination, international law and the South African Bantustan policy. Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 17, 185-220.
[53] Riddle, J. (2002-2003). Making CEDAW universal: A critique of CEDAW’s reservation regime under article 28 and the effectiveness of the reporting process. Georgetown Washington International Law Review, 34, 605-638.
[54] Rose, D. (2009). Guantanamo: America’s war on human rights. London: Faber and Faber.
[55] Rothschild, J., & Miethe, T. (1994). Whistle-blowing as resistance in modern work organisations’ in resistance and power in organisations. In J. Jermier, et al. (Eds.). London: Routledge.
[56] Ruggie, J. (2006). Interim Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2006/97.
[57] Schabas, W. A. (1997). Reservations to the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and the convention on the rights of the child. William & Mary Journal of Women & Law, 3, 79-112.
[58] Sepper, E. (2008-2009). Confronting the sacred and unchangeable: The obligation to modify cultural patterns under the women’s discrimination treaty. University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, 30, 585-640.
[59] Sterling, T. (2002). The Enron scandal. New York: Nova Science Publishing.
[60] Stone, J. (1932). Procedure under the minorities treaties. American Journal of International Law, 26.
[61] Thornberry, P. (1991). International law and the rights of minorities. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
[62] Transparency International (2013). International principles for whistleblowing legislation. Berlin: Transparency International.
[63] Van Bueren, G. (1998). The international law on the rights of the child London: Martinus Nijhoff.
[64] Vandekerckhove, W. (2006). Whistleblowing & organisational social responsibility: A global assessment. Aldershot: Ashgate.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.