A United Nations panel, including experts and participants from various organizations, has highlighted the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) aimed at silencing journalists across the globe. The discussion, part of a broader conversation on legal and economic threats to journalists' safety, took place during a United Nations seminar held in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 25, organized by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
SLAPP lawsuits, designed to prevent the dissemination of information to the public, were identified as a significant threat to journalists, alongside restrictive laws impacting press freedom in different countries. The seminar, featuring contributions from ARTICLE19, the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) from Turkey, and other stakeholders, underscored the importance of free and independent media for democratic governance. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, in his opening address via video, stressed the foundational role of journalists in societies and the dangers posed to democracy when their security is threatened.
The seminar also addressed the issue of "fake news" laws, notably in Turkey, referred to as disinformation laws by critics, further complicating the legal landscape for journalists. Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, emphasized the need for stronger legal protections for journalists against these and other threats, including digital surveillance.
During the seminar's sessions, experts and legal advocates discussed the worrying trend of SLAPP lawsuits and the broader implications for freedom of expression and journalist safety. A session led by Pádraig Hughes, Legal Unit Director at Media Defence, which has taken numerous cases of Turkish journalists to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), highlighted the increase in SLAPP cases. The European Union’s Permanent Representative to the UN also spoke, reiterating the EU’s commitment to condemning attacks and harassment against journalists, bloggers, and media workers. The EU's Anti-SLAPP initiative, launched in April 2022 to improve protections for journalists and public interest speakers, was cited as a crucial step forward.
The seminar also featured discussions on the challenges faced by independent journalists in Russia and the importance of international cooperation in combating SLAPP lawsuits, as emphasized by representatives from the Russia Media Defence Centre and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF).
Solutions and recommendations to counteract the use of SLAPP lawsuits as a weapon against journalists were also discussed, with ARTICLE19's Paulina Gutiérrez contributing to the conversation. The outcomes of the seminar will be presented in a report at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The day-long seminar's recordings are available through the following links:
Morning sessions: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k18/k18khr9kok
Afternoon sessions: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1o/k1o2mxcm7q
