Since 17 December 2021, Sweden has a new Whistleblower Law. Here you can read about what it means and how you can make a whistleblowing report to SMVK.
The new law provides whistleblowers with increased protection. Among other things, confidentiality rights are strengthened, and it is now possible to report more types of misconduct than before.
Whistleblowing refers to when a person reports misconduct in public authorities, companies, or society at large. This may involve things that are illegal, unethical, or inappropriate.
Who can whistleblow to the National Museums of World Culture (SMVK)?
In addition to employees at SMVK, several others are also covered by the protection under the Whistleblower Act. This may include job applicants, interns, consultants, or others in a work-related context connected to SMVK.
You can whistleblow about misconduct at SMVK. To be protected by the Whistleblower Act, there must be a public interest in what you report. It may concern matters that are illegal, unethical, or inappropriate. You must also assume that what you report is true, and it must be work-related.
If you want to report misconduct at SMVK, you should do so by email or phone.
We are currently reviewing how you can make whistleblowing reports to us in the future.
Call 010-4561100 and ask to speak to the whistleblowing function (Chief Financial Officer Anna Rödén or Controller Eva Lunneborg).
Visselblasare@varldskulturmuseerna.se
It is important that you try to provide as much information as possible.
The report should include the following information:
The person reporting misconduct should receive confirmation of the report within seven days. Feedback on measures taken should be provided within three months.
A whistleblowing report may concern misconduct that poses an imminent or obvious danger to life, health, or safety, or risk of extensive environmental damage, or other matters where there is a justified reason to report to the authority, such as financial irregularities.
Whistleblowing should not concern issues related to one’s own employment relationship. A person submitting a message through the whistleblowing service does not need proof of their suspicion. However, no accusations may be made with the intent to harm or with knowledge that the accusation is false.
In addition to the protection under the Whistleblower Act, there are several other protections that always apply regardless of the Act.
All employees in public service, without risk of consequences, may provide information to the media for publication. This also applies to certain classified information. Exceptions apply for serious crimes, e.g., against national security. It is also prohibited to attempt to trace the source.
The right, under the Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression, for anyone to obtain information for the purpose of publication. This is seen as an extension of freedom of communication.
Authorities or other public bodies are not allowed to investigate who has provided information under freedom of communication. Those who have received such information are bound by confidentiality regarding the identity of the source.
Ban on reprisals (Repressalieförbud): Employers are prohibited from punishing those who have used their freedom of communication.
Read questions and answers about the new law on the Government’s website (swedish)
Read the full law on the Parliament’s website (swedish).
When you report misconduct, SMVK needs to process personal data about you. SMVK applies current data protection legislation in all personal data processing.
We process your personal data to receive your report, communicate with you during the process, follow up on what has been reported, and provide feedback to you.
As a government authority, SMVK is legally obliged to receive reports of misconduct, and laws or regulations require SMVK to process certain personal data in our operations.
SMVK processes your personal data as long as necessary for the purpose of processing. Your personal data will be archived and preserved.
Your personal data may be shared with data processors. This may include suppliers of IT systems used by SMVK to carry out its assignments and fulfill obligations.
When a message or report is received by SMVK, it is registered and given a case number. As SMVK is a government authority, your message may become an official document. This means that anyone has the right to request access to it. However, information in a report may be subject to confidentiality. SMVK will therefore always make a confidentiality assessment, which may mean that information covered by secrecy will not be disclosed. A decision to withhold official documents can be appealed in court.
As of 17 December 2021, a new provision in the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (Chapter 32, Section 3b) protects the identity of whistleblowers in the public sector. Confidentiality applies to information that could reveal the whistleblower’s identity in a follow-up case. This includes information contained in a report of misconduct submitted via the whistleblowing function and information provided in feedback to the reporting person.
SMVK, corporate identity number 202100-5075, is responsible for the processing of your personal data. SMVK’s contact details are as follows:
Statens museer för världskultur
Box 5306
40227 Gothenburg
Phone (switchboard): 010-4561100
Email: registrator@varldskulturmuseerna.se
You have the right to contact SMVK if you want information about the data SMVK holds about you or to request correction of your data. In some cases, you also have the right to request restriction of processing, object, or request deletion of your data.
To ask questions about your personal data, you should contact SMVK’s Data Protection Officer.
Email: Kristofer.Cavallin-Aijmer@varldskulturmuseerna.se
If you have complaints about SMVK’s processing of your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority, the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY).