Parliament has accepted the Whistleblower Protection Bill.

The bill, proposed by North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla, was accepted with 75 votes in favor and has been sent to the committee on independent institutions.

The Whistleblower Protection Bill proposes to establish laws that would empower and protect whistleblowers and investigate their claims.

It defines whistleblowing as exposing acts of corruption and criminal behavior, acts that violate international human rights laws, dangers to public health and the environment, state graft, miscarriages of justice, and mismanagement or misuse of resources.

The bill states that whistleblowers are to be protected from civil and criminal lawsuits, administrative action, and have their personal information kept hidden. Revealing a whistleblower’s personal information will result in a sentence of three months to five years.