stated that they had heard of the“Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection” law, while a notable 73.2% were unaware of its existence. 18F 19 This discrepancy underscores the fact that while citizens acknowledge the potential efficacy of whistleblowing as a robust anti-corruption tool, there remains a significant deficiency in awareness about particular legal safeguards and mechanisms tailored to shield and empower them as whistleblowers. While the view of seeing whistleblowing as an indication of engaged citizenship marks a significant positive shift in societal perspective, this perception must evolve to include a comprehensive understanding of legal regulations. Below we discuss the approaches that need to be taken in order to transform sentiment into impactful anti-corruption actions. III. Bridging Perception and Reality: The Power of Awareness Campaigns Implementing a robust and impactful awareness campaign is an essential strategy for addressing the disparity between the public's perception of whistleblowing and the actual disclosure of information on threats or harm to the public interest. These campaigns are the foundation for nurturing positive public attitudes and facilitating reporting. 19F 20 It is crucial to ensure that employees across both the public and private sectors, as well as stakeholders, understand the significance of whistleblowing and are well informed about relevant policies and procedures in place to protect them. When thoughtfully designed and meticulously executed, an awareness campaign can significantly transform corruption-reporting practices. This is also supported by public opinion, as 68.1% agree that awareness campaigns can contribute to the reduction of corruption 20F 21 . The influence of awareness campaigns extends beyond just changing the culture and language surrounding whistleblowing: they can also break down barriers and negative connotations associated with disclosing wrongdoings. 21F 22 Misinformation and misunderstanding often discourage individuals from stepping forward to report threats or harm to the public interest. Such campaigns can play a pivotal role by reshaping public understanding and highlighting that whistleblowers are not mere spies but engaged citizens. In alignment with this objective, HIDAACI is tasked with continually raising public awareness 22F 23 of whistleblowing and whistleblower protection in order to increase cultural acceptance of whistleblowing. 19 Ibid. 20 Council of Europe. October 2014. Protection of Whistleblowers: Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)7 and explanatory memorandum. 21 Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance, Albanian Security Barometer 2022. https://csdgalbania.org/albanian-security-barometer-2022/. 22 OECD, 2016, Committing to Effective Whistleblower Protection, Paris: OECD Publishing. 23 Law No. 60/2016 on“Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection”, Article 21. Parliament of Albania. A KEY STEP IN EFFECTIVELY FIGHTING CORRUPTION | 6