Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are lawsuits filed not to seek justice, but to intimidate, silence, or drain the resources of journalists, media workers, and activists who expose wrongdoing. Often disguised as defamation or civil claims, SLAPPs exploit the legal system to suppress critical reporting and limit public scrutiny. These abusive lawsuits are a growing concern worldwide, threatening freedom of expression, transparency, and accountability. Recognising and responding to SLAPPs is therefore essential for media professionals, legal practitioners, and civil society alike.

With the support of the EU and the Council of Europe joint action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)”, together with the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) and the EU-funded Training Academy for Journalists and Media Workers (T-AJM), a three-day training on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) was organised. It was held from 21 to 23 August 2025 in Mavrovo and brought together journalists and lawyers to strengthen their capacities in recognising, preventing, and responding to SLAPPs.

The programme combined consultant-led interactive discussions, practical exercises, and real-life case studies. The Council of Europe Training Programme  was tailored to the specific needs of journalists and contextualised to the national legal and media environment. Key topics included the Council of Europe Recommendation on SLAPPs, defamation and insult laws as potential tools for legal harassment, practical legal strategies under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and safety measures for journalists facing threats and harassment. Participants applied these international standards and adapted PRO-FREX tools to hypothetical and real-life scenarios, shared experiences, and discussed collective strategies to respond to SLAPPs within the national context.

The training highlighted the protection of journalists’ rights during sensitive periods, such as the upcoming local elections in North Macedonia in October 2025, when journalists and media outlets may face heightened pressures and increased risk of SLAPPs aimed at silencing critical reporting. Based on the discussions and experiences shared during the training, a set of practical guidelines on SLAPPs for journalists will be developed to support their work and strengthen protections against legal intimidation.

The training underscored the ongoing commitment of AJM, PRO-FREX, and T-AJM to support journalists and legal professionals in addressing threats to freedom of expression and strengthening the rule of law. At the same time, it fostered trust and connections between the two groups, laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration and mutual support in responding to SLAPPs and other pressures in the future.

This training was organised  in the framework of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and its action on “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)”, implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression.