According to the Public Relations Office of the General Inspection Organization (GIO) of Iran, at the international seminar “Effective Ombudsmanship for People’s Livelihood”, held within the framework of the 18th General Assembly of the Asian Ombudsman Association, Dr. Khodaeiyan, President of the GIO, emphasized the fundamental role of public oversight in enhancing the quality of government services. He highlighted the direct link between “general public supervision” and “whistleblower protection” with transparency, accountability, and public trust.

In his speech, he underscored that the concepts of general oversight and whistleblower protection hold a central position in Iran’s legal and religious culture, analogous to Article 8 of the Constitution concerning the principle of “enjoining good and forbidding wrong”. He also noted that the international community, through anti-corruption conventions, obliges governments to protect whistleblowers and highlights the importance of secure reporting channels.

Dr. Khodaeiyan further outlined the existing legal framework in Iran, including Articles 8, 90, and 174 of the Constitution. He emphasized the effective role of the GIO as the official ombudsman institution in facilitating public complaints, ensuring prompt follow-up, and implementing legal reforms. He stated that oversight and legal measures in the country provide a powerful mechanism for creating a “cycle of transparency, accountability, and trust.”

He also referred to Iran’s advanced approach to whistleblower protection, including the enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Law in 2023, which provides safeguards such as identity confidentiality, prohibition of any retaliatory actions, and both material and moral incentives.

Additionally, he highlighted the launch of the “National Whistleblower Support System” as a secure platform for public reporting, which enables follow-up on the stages of investigation and quality control of reports.

In conclusion, Dr. Khodaeiyan invited the Asian Ombudsman Association to expand regional cooperation, proposing that the exchange of experiences regarding whistleblower protection, establishment of secure reporting channels, and creation of a shared knowledge base could represent a significant step forward in promoting transparency and good governance.