Vidjilence Abazi

Co-Founder and Executive Director, European Whistleblowing Institute

North Macedonia

Vigjilenca Abazi is the co-founder and executive director of the European Whistleblowing Institute, an organization dedicated to protecting and supporting whistleblowers across Europe. Under her direction, the institute collaborated extensively with stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, and civil society organizations, to create and advocate for the European Union Whistleblower Directive. This regulation established a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at protecting whistleblowers and promoting accountability. Born in Croatia and raised in North Macedonia, Vigjilenca is of Albanian ethnicity. Her diverse background and personal experiences inspired her to empower women and girls in the Western Balkans by also co-founding Stella, a nonprofit dedicated to gender equality through education and economic empowerment. Coming from an academic background, Vidjilenca is passionate about protecting democracy through holding institutions accountable.