Whistleblowers Policy

 JA Europe Whistleblower policy  

(version December 2023) 

 

This whistleblowing policy part of JA Europe’s policies provides staff with protection from retaliation for reporting incidents and misconducts. JA Europe shows strictly commitment to the reports and takes them seriously. JA Europe will not tolerate any form of retaliation against a person who either reports or who cooperates in an audit or investigation process. Staff have a duty to report, unethical behaviours and misconduct that affects the organisation (or someone associated with the organisation).


Purpose of the policy 

JA Europe’s whistleblower protection policy has the purpose of: 

  • Contribute to the creation of a safe environment, within JA Europe. 
  • Protect staff and individuals who report any action or suspicion under good faith. 
  • Establish a safe reporting framework. 
  • Demonstrate the obligation of JA Europe staff to report any concern to the reporting channels. 
  • Reinforce the high ethical standards or respect and dignity of JA Europe. 

Scope of the policy 

JA Europe with this policy aims to provide clear guidelines for the protection of the mechanisms of reporting misconducts and investigation procedures that are established into the organization. 

JA Europe is committed to the protection of whistleblowers aiming to provide a safe environment for anyone to report their concerns without the fair of retaliation,  

 

The reporting procedure  

Any suspicion of allegations, misconducts, harmful or illegal activities must be reported into the confidential channels immediately. JA Europe motivates their staff to report their concerns with good faith. JA Europe safeguarding team is responsible for receiving, handling and replying with respect to the reports. 

 

Type of allegation or misconducts that must be reported immediately:  

  • Sexual exploitation and abuse actions 
  • Bullying, harassment or discrimination in the workplace 
  • Corruption and bribery  
  • Conflict of interest violations 
  • Fraud or any financial allegation 
  • Retaliation against whistleblowers 
  • Data privacy breaches 
  • Sensitive information exploitation 

The Reporting form exists into:  

 JA Europe’s internal documents: INCIDENT REPORTING FORM  

JA Europe official website.  

JA Europe confidential email address: safeguarding@jaeurope.org  


Protection against retaliation and Confidentiality 

JA Europe ensures:  

  • Confidentiality during the reporting and investigation process  
  • Providing option of anonymous report, that, leading to the investigation of the allegation. 
  •  Having zero-tolerance to any act of retaliation against the reporters.  
  • The protection of victimization, blame and disclosure of false reporting. 
  • The report will be handled with sensitivity by the special trained JA Europe team and directed to the special authorities when needed.  
  • Having three people responsible for providing a 6-eye principle on the evaluation process.  
  • Following with transparency and fairness the investigation process. 
  • The outcomes of the investigation are based on adequately evidence.  
  • Implementation of appropriate measures, disclosures and corrective actions upon the law, after the investigation.  

Reports Made in Bad Faith 

JA Europe is dedicated to establishing robust mechanisms that empower individuals to report any allegations or suspicions of misconduct. At the same time, the organization has implemented procedures to safeguard whistleblowers, fostering a culture that encourages the reporting of concerns related to unethical or illegal activities within JA Europe. This commitment extends specifically to whistleblowers who act in good faith. 

JA Europe insists that all reports be made in good faith and maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards reports made with malicious intent. If reports are knowingly made in bad faith, JA Europe will take appropriate actions to address the situation. 

Reports made in bad faith have the potential to cause harm to individuals, insult, damage reputations, and undermine the effectiveness of the whistleblower policy and procedures. JA Europe will respond by terminating any collaboration with individuals found to have submitted reports in bad faith. Additionally, the organization will pursue disciplinary actions against those intentionally submitting false reports, in accordance with the law and legal frameworks. 

To protect the integrity of the whistleblower policy, JA Europe aims to encourage faithful reporting while actively discouraging and addressing the exploitation of the reporting process. This approach ensures that the reporting system remains a tool for promoting ethical conduct and organizational integrity.