The Council of Europe launched a new Training Programme on Countering Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) — part of its ongoing efforts to defend freedom of expression and protect journalists and others speaking out in the public interest.

This hands-on course is designed for judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and other legal professionals, helping them spot, respond to, and tackle SLAPPs in line with European standards. The training builds on key international frameworks, including the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 and the EU Directive 2024/1069, both focused on protecting people involved in public participation from abusive legal actions.

The programme, developed in the framework of the EU and Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”  has already been rolled out through several initiatives in the Western Balkans and was highlighted as an innovative tool at major recent events — the Second European Anti-SLAPP Conference (14 November 2024, Strasbourg) and the Regional Exchange on “Countering the use of SLAPPs in the Western Balkans” (15 November 2024, Strasbourg).

The programme materials are available for free download, and can be adapted to the specific needs and contexts of different Beneficiaries.

Everyone is encouraged to make full use of these resources. To ensure quality and coherence across all implementations, users are simply asked to:

• inform the Council of Europe when using the materials;
• acknowledge the Council of Europe as the source; and
• involve certified trainers in their delivery.

By following these good practices, you help maintain the highest standards and ensure the programme has the greatest possible impact.

Public authorities in Council of Europe Member States are invited to contact the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression for support in organising training sessions.