Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

The escalating threat posed by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) has intensified the need for joint action and robust support networks among journalists, media professionals, and legal practitioners. Co-operation at domestic and European levels would be essential to provide effective legal support to those targeted by abusive lawsuits. This was underlined during the one-day workshop held in Pristina, bringing together young journalists, students of journalism and law, and media actors to strengthen understanding of European standards and practical protection mechanisms for media freedom.

The event explored how abusive lawsuits are used to intimidate journalists and silence public interest reporting, while also providing participants with tools to recognise, prevent and respond to such practices.

Through a combination of moderated discussions, interactive exercises and practical group work, participants reflected on daily basis challenges faced by journalists and media actors when confronted with legal pressure.

Participants also examined key indicators for identifying SLAPP cases, including typical red flags and patterns and worked in groups on practical scenarios to apply these criteria in concrete situations. The discussions highlighted the importance of early recognition of SLAPP characteristics and the need for coordinated responses involving journalists, media actors and future legal professionals.

The event concluded with reflections on the need to strengthen resilience within the media community and to continue promoting European standards that safeguard freedom of expression and protect journalists from undue legal pressure.

This activity was organised within the framework of the action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media (PROFREX)”  which is implemented by the Division for Cooperation 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”