Increase in whistleblower reports to the Defender of Rights in 2025 – Urgent call for increased public funding

Paris – 28.05.2026: In 2025, the Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon, observed a spectacular increase in reports from whistleblowers. While around 80 reports were received annually until 2020, the figure exceeded 900 for the first time last year. This development reflects growing trust in the institution, which has played a central role in protecting whistleblowers since its creation in 2011.

This increase is part of a broader trend. The Defender of Rights recorded a total of 165,011 complaints, information, and transmissions in 2025, an increase of 17% compared to 2024 and nearly 70% compared to 2020. This dynamic demonstrates greater awareness among citizens of their rights and the importance of whistleblowing.

In response to this development, Claire Hédon emphasized the need for strengthened public support. She called for increased budgets to meet the growing demands and effectively ensure the protection of whistleblowers. This request follows previous appeals by Ms. Hédon, who had repeatedly highlighted structural deficits in whistleblower protection.

The Defender of Rights has repeatedly emphasized the importance of whistleblowing to reveal dysfunctions. She insisted that whistleblowers often make a decisive contribution to uncovering cases of corruption and other illegal practices. However, she also highlighted the challenges these individuals face, including possible professional and personal consequences.

The request for additional resources for the Defender of Rights is not new. In previous years, Claire Hédon had already stressed the need for better equipment of her institution to meet these increased demands. She recalled that an effective defense of citizens’ rights can only be ensured with sufficient resources.

The current situation highlights the importance of continuous support and strengthening of institutions tasked with protecting citizens’ rights. Given the growing number of reports and the challenges that follow, adequate funding is essential to meet increased demands and guarantee effective protection of whistleblowers.

Overall, the development observed in 2025 shows that awareness of the importance of whistleblowing is increasing and that citizens are increasingly willing to expose dysfunctions. However, this also generates heightened demands on the institutions responsible for protecting these whistleblowers. Appropriate funding and support are therefore essential to meet these increased demands and ensure the effective protection of citizens’ rights.

The Defender of Rights thus faces the challenge of adapting its resources accordingly to meet the increased demands and continue to effectively ensure the protection of whistleblowers.