History

The Whistleblower Summit for Civil and Human Rights

is a non-partisan educational and charitable conference. Whistle Blowing is apolitical; it is not about “Left” vs. “Right”— it is about Right vs. Wrong. The Whistleblower Summit is “trans-partisan” in nature because not only do we honor Democrats and Republicans; we also host everyone from Libertarians and Conservatives—to Liberals and Progressives

The Whistleblower Summit began over a decade ago when ACORN 8 became the first NGO to promote National Whistleblower Appreciation Day by hosting the Whistleblower Summit for Civil & Human Rights on Capitol Hill. Since then, it has evolved into the premier event for celebrating whistleblowers, connecting them with advocates and resources, and highlighting their essential role in protecting democracy.

Over the years, the summit has featured prominent whistleblowers, policymakers, and advocates who have shaped whistleblower policy and legislation. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, we've created a platform that not only honors whistleblowers but also drives meaningful change in how they are protected and perceived.
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Whistleblowers' Impact
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Throughout our nation's history, whistleblowers have served as democracy's immune system, identifying and exposing corruption before it can metastasize into systemic failure. From Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg to Watergate's Deep Throat, from Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins to NSA contractor Edward Snowden, these individuals have demonstrated extraordinary courage by placing truth above personal security, often at tremendous personal cost.

Research consistently shows that whistleblowers are the single most effective mechanism for detecting fraud and misconduct, far outpacing government regulators and external auditors. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners has found that tips—primarily from whistleblowers—expose approximately 40% of all corporate frauds, representing billions in recovered funds and incalculable prevented harms.

What makes the whistleblower's contribution uniquely valuable is that they operate within the very systems they seek to reform. They bring insider knowledge that regulators can't access and perspectives that oversight committees often miss. They represent democracy's last line of defense when other safeguards fail.

Over the last thirteen years, members from the Make it Safe Coalition (MISC) have arranged an assembly of whistleblowers in Washington, DC each year for an annual conference originally known as Washington Whistleblower’s Week. All whistleblowers and their advocates, as well as the entire civil rights community are invited to participate.

The Whistleblower Summit recognizes that cinema is a powerful medium for highlighting civil and human rights violations across the globe. It seeks to shine a light on stories of courage and perseverance in the face of injustice, and to encourage individuals to stand together to achieve human rights for all.
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We are looking for films about whistleblowers, the First Amendment, or that touch on one or several human rights issues that are connected to our areas of work including but not limited to freedom of expression, women’s rights, discrimination, communal violence, and defending human rights. The themes mentioned are not exhaustive; films centered on other civil and human rights issues are equally welcome for submission. The Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival proudly accepts entries on FilmFreeway, the world's #1 way to enter film festivals and creative contests.

The Whistleblower Summit includes historic panel discussions with distinguished authors of whistleblower books followed by film screenings of “Pillar Award” nominated films and documentaries. Thus “Movie Night” with the whistleblowers was one of the highlights of our annual summit, because it gave whistleblowers, advocates and conference attendees an opportunity to interact with the general public in a relaxed atmosphere that promotes camaraderie and builds broad community support.
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***The Whistleblower Summit for Civil and Human Rights*** is a non-partisan educational and charitable conference. Whistle Blowing is apolitical; it is not about “Left” vs. “Right”— it is about Right vs. Wrong. The Whistleblower Summit is “trans-partisan” in nature because not only do we honor Democrats and Republicans; we also host everyone from Libertarians and Conservatives—to Liberals and Progressives.