Expert Seminar on Legal and Economic Threats to the Safety of Journalists

(25 April 2023)

Session II: Legal threats, including lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), and their impact on the safety of journalists

EU Intervention

Madam/Mr Chair,

We would like to thank the panellists for their insightful interventions on this very relevant topic. There is no doubt that independent journalism is a key pillar of a functioning democracy: it ensures the plurality of information, underpins meaningful civic participation, helps to hold authorities accountable, and plays a crucial role in the fight against disinformation and information manipulation.

Unfortunately, as we have heard today, attacks against independent media are increasing worldwide, with journalists facing intimidation, harassment, legal threats, and abusive litigation. In some States, such threats even stem from internal policies to silence critical voices. In particular, strategic lawsuits against public participation (or ‘SLAPPs’) targeting journalists are a serious threat to democracy and human rights, such as freedom of expression and access to information.

This is why, in April 2022, the European Commission launched an ‘Anti-SLAPP’ initiative, in order to improve the protection of journalists and those who risk speaking up, when the public interest is at stake, from abusive court proceedings.

In line with the Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2024) and other EU documents, the EU is committed to condemning attacks, other forms of harassment and intimidation against journalists, bloggers and other media workers, both online and offline, and to pay attention to the specific situation of women journalists and media workers, who face more threats than their male counterparts do.

Concretely, the EU programme ‘Protect Defenders’ has provided support to around 550 journalists and media under threat around the world. In Afghanistan, two programmes for media operating inside the country and working from abroad have been agreed with UNESCO and Internews. In Ukraine, emergency funding for media outlets is channelled through CSOs and trusted partners like the European Endowment for Democracy.

We are convinced that when media and journalists are silenced, accountability is eroded, and the consequences for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and development are dire.

Dear panellists, could you share your views on the role the international community can play against SLAPPs, including at the Human Rights Council?

Thank you.