The ILOAT confirmed today that it will decide how to handle the amicus curiae brief that was submitted by the Whistleblowing International Network (WIN) on behalf of a group of civil society organisations* in the case of Zambon v. World Health Organisation (WHO) in September 2023 when it hears the case. This was after the ILOAT confirmed that it would accept the amicus brief, the first to be accepted from CSOs.
WIN sought more information on behalf the group and specifically asked "how the Tribunal has decided to proceed with the amicus curiae brief and on the scheduling of the case, and in particular, if and when a decision on the brief and/or the judgment itself may be expected".
The ILOAT further confirmed that it is now included in the list of cases to be examined at the 139th session in October and November 2024 and if a judgment is adopted it is likely to be delivered in public in February 2025.
The reason for requesting further information is because of the importance of the case and the wider-reaching implications the decision of the ILOAT could have on whistleblower protection globally but also in United Nation related agencies.
The whistleblower in this case, Dr Francesco Zambon, is the now-former WHO researcher whose Report on the Italian government’s response to the pandemic was withdrawn just a few hours after its publication. The Report was specifically focused on examining the severity of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italy, and its experience as the first European country affected by it, as a case study from which all countries could learn in order to be better prepared in future.
As a result, and following the internal WHO procedure, Zambon reported suspected conflicts of interest in the decision of the Report’s withdrawal and the pressures he had experienced to modify its findings, the WHO ultimately denied him recognition as a whistleblower and failed to provide him with any protection. Zambon’s unwavering commitment to scientific integrity and transparency prompted him to report what had happened; the decision to withdraw the paper appeared to be more of a personal or political nature, rather than anything to do with the scientific nature of the research and its importance in protecting public health.
Read more - Zambon case: Call him a whistleblower
* The amicus curiae brief was submitted by the Whistleblowing International Network on behalf of WIN and the Government Accountability Project, Transparency International, Transparency International Italy, GlobaLeaks and Whistleblower Aid
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