Back Protecting journalists and activists from SLAPPs in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jahorina 3-4 September 2024
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Protecting journalists and activists from SLAPPs in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are a significant concern for journalists and activists, as they are used by political and economic power holders to suppress critical voices. Addressing this challenge from the perspective of journalists and lawyers, and exploring how to integrate the Council of Europe and European Union’s anti SLAPP standards into the local legal frameworks, were the topics discussed at a recent capacity building session.

Thirty-five journalists and lawyers from across Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the two-day event. They were introduced to the topic with personal experiences from a journalist and an activist, who shared their legal struggles against powerful plaintiffs. The training continued with the  presentation of the anti SLAPP Recommendation of the Council of Europe CM/Rec(2024)2, adopted by the Committee of Ministers in April 2024, and the EU Directive on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings. Participants then engaged in practical exercises, discussing how to integrate these international standards into their practice and domestic legal framework.

The capacity building activity was organised within the action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PROFREX)”,  implemented by the Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression of the Council of Europe, and is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

 

 

Horizontal Facility III

The joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative, running from 2023 until 2026.

The programme covers actions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

The third phase of the programme is worth €41 million (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).

This website was produced with the financial support of the European Union and the Council of Europe. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of either party.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.