JE Global Whistleblowing Centre

Junior Enterprises Global is committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability and ethical governance across the Junior Enterprise Movement. As a global organisation powered by volunteers yet engaged in work of international relevance, we recognise the responsibility to maintain structures that protect the integrity of our operations and the wellbeing of our community. To this end, JE Global has established this dedicated Whistleblowing Centre, a secure and confidential reporting mechanism that enables individuals to raise concerns about serious misconduct safely and without fear of retaliation.

Although JE Global is not a company within the meaning of EU commercial law, the design of this mechanism aligns with the principles of the EU Whistleblowing Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1937) and broader international standards on responsible disclosure. It reflects our commitment to building a culture of transparency, accountability and trust that extends across the global network.

Purpose and Scope

The Whistleblowing Centre provides a formal channel for reporting concerns that, due to their seriousness, require independent review. This includes allegations or suspicions of legal breaches, financial irregularities, corruption, abuse of authority, discrimination, data-protection violations, misuse of organisational resources, or any misconduct that threatens the integrity, reputation or safety of the Movement. Matters that fall within the scope of JE Global’s safeguarding or SEA frameworks are referred to the relevant specialised structures, but individuals may still use the Whistleblowing Centre if they are uncertain which mechanism applies.

The system is open to all individuals who interact with JE Global: members of the Executive Board and EET, Directors, Officers, Envoys, volunteers, consultants, service providers, national and local Junior Enterprises or Confederation members, partners and beneficiaries, as well as external stakeholders who, through their professional relationship with JE Global, become aware of information that merits formal attention.

It is noted that Junior Enterprises Global is legally independent of JE Movement structures and does not accept, hold or exercise control over the actions of National entities, their executive and non executive bodies or individial Junior Enterprises under their care. We acknowledge receipt of Whistleblowing compaints and hints concerning national Movements (National Confederations / Pre-Confederations) and individual Junior Enterprises, yet cannot assure improper behaviour is stopped without risking disclosure of whistleblowing complaint information to, legally, third parties. We will only raise such behaviour with legally third parties (entities within the JE Movement outside of JE Global itself) if you explicitly consent to this. In all other cases we will take note of such behaviour and integrate it into future compliance work, training and audit activity where such scope of work extends to the issues raised via Whistleblowing complaint. We advise to additionally raise your complaint under the applicable national or local framework, provided such framework is a safe environment for your complaint.

A Secure and Accessible Submission Process

Reports can be submitted through the below secure online form. The submission interface allows individuals to disclose their identity, remain confidential, or submit information anonymously, in accordance with what is permitted by applicable law. The form is designed to guide users through the information needed for an initial assessment, while allowing them to upload relevant documents if they wish to do so.

Independent Review by the Alumni Board

To ensure impartiality, all whistleblowing submissions are directed exclusively to the Alumni Board, which acts as JE Global’s independent authority for receiving and assessing such concerns. Its members are structurally separate from the Executive leadership and day-to-day operations, ensuring that conflict of interest risks are minimised and that the system meets the Directive’s requirement for independence.

Upon receiving a report, the Alumni Board registers it securely, evaluates the nature of the concern, and determines the appropriate follow-up. Where direct contact is possible, it may seek clarification from the whistleblower. When necessary, the Alumni Board coordinates with relevant governance bodies, always applying the principles of confidentiality, impartiality and due care. Individuals who submit reports will, to the extent permitted by law and confidentiality obligations, receive acknowledgement and general updates on the status of the review, provided such means were included in the complaint.

Confidentiality, Data Protection and Security

Confidentiality is central to the Whistleblowing Centre. JE Global ensures that the identity of the whistleblower, if at all known, is disclosed only to those strictly authorised to handle the report and never to third parties within the JE Movement unless explicitly authorised. All information is processed in accordance with the GDPR, LGPD, PIPL and equivalent data-protection standards, stored securely, and accessed solely on a need-to-know basis. The system is constructed so that no disclosure is made that could endanger or prejudice the reporting person or any individuals implicated in the concern.

Protection Against Retaliation

JE Global strictly prohibits retaliation in any form against individuals who report concerns in good faith. Retaliation may include, but is not limited to, exclusion from activities, negative treatment, intimidation, threats, reputational harm or adverse effects on one’s role within the Movement. The organisation is committed to taking appropriate action where retaliation is identified and to ensuring that individuals feel able to speak up without fear of negative consequences. These protections apply whether the report is made openly, confidentially or anonymously, within the limits of applicable law.

A Commitment to Ethical Governance

The establishment of the Whistleblowing Centre is part of JE Global’s broader commitment to ethical leadership and responsible organisational governance. Speaking up when something appears wrong is an essential safeguard for any organisation, and even more so for a global volunteer Movement whose impact depends on mutual trust and integrity. The Centre ensures that concerns are received with seriousness, reviewed independently, and addressed with transparency and fairness.

By providing this mechanism, JE Global reaffirms its dedication to a culture where accountability is shared, ethical conduct is expected, and every individual feels empowered to protect the integrity of the Movement.