Whistleblowing notifications are the cases that you report via the red route. They deal with events that are harmful, dangerous, unethical or criminal.
Tips for those who are considering whistleblowing:
Seek advice and support
If you are uncertain whether to make a whistleblowing notification, you can seek help and advice from the Student Ombudsman, SiO Health Services or the University Chaplaincy.
Read about whistleblowing
and what it entails at www.uio.no/speak-up
Keep the documentation
Text messages, emails, social media and snapchat messages and similar.
Speak up here
What happens after you have made a whistleblowing notification?
- Within one week you will be contacted by the learning environment contact at your faculty. He/she is familiar with the process and how such cases are dealt with.
- You will be invited to a meeting with the case officer, where you can present the case and be listened to.
- Written minutes will be taken from the meeting, and you will have an opportunity to comment on these.
- Dealing with the case may take some time. If necessary, you will be offered support along the way.
Do you find it hard to speak up on your own?
- Please feel free to bring a friend or another support person to the meeting, for instance a student counsellor from SiO, the Student Ombudsman or someone else.
Are you afraid of meeting the person you have accused of something reprehensible?
- You will not have to meet the person that you have accused of something reprehensible face to face.
Are you afraid of negative consequences?
- The person you are accusing of something reprehensible will be instructed not to contact you about the case and that retaliation is prohibited.
Are you afraid that everybody will know about it?
- The case will be dealt with confidentially. This means that your name will not be known to more people than what is needed in order to deal with the case.
- If the notification concerns other persons, these other persons will as a general rule have the right to see the documents concerning themselves.
Are you afraid that the case may discussed in the media?
- A case like this may be discussed in the media. Employees at UiO have a duty to keep your personal information confidential and can not hand these over to the press. For example, this applies to information about family and physical or mental health issues.
- If UiO receives an access request for information, we will ensure that we have removed the name and all other information which can identify persons with a right to confidentiality.
What will happen to the person you are accusing?
- The accused will be summoned to a meeting and given the opportunity to present their version of the case.
- The case officer will if necessary collect additional documentation and may speak to other persons who can help throw light on the case.
What are the consequences?
- You will be given information regarding the conclusion of the case once it has been fully investigated.
- Ifthe conclusion is that something reprehensible has taken place, UiO has a duty to initiate measures to restore a safe learning environment.
- As a rule you will not get to know about the specific consequences for the person you have accused, as you will not have the right to access a possible personnel case.
Whatever the outcome, the accused will get to hear that their behaviour has been perceived as being reprehensible and the case will be kept on file.
Your whistleblowing notification can therefore help stop and prevent harassment.