Logo of the Coalition Against SLAPPS in Europe
Coalition aims to outlaw SLAPPs in Europe

Press-ECPMF

09 April 2021

No Comments

Coalition aims to outlaw SLAPPs in Europe

CASE is a coalition of civil society from across Europe representing a range of organisations acting in the public interest who are united in recognition of the threat posed to their work by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), abusive lawsuits designed to silence critical speech. The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom is a member of the Coalition and campaigns actively against SLAPPs.

CASE, the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe, was officially launched on 27 March 2021 with an online panel event highlighting SLAPP victims representing different public watchdogs.

At the launch event, Maltese investigative journalist Matthew Caruana Galizia – whose mother Daphne was murdered with a car bomb because of her reporting – commented:

“It’s painful to think that if my mother hadn’t been assassinated, much of her life would have been spent in court fighting lawsuits”

He explained in a video how rich and powerful people in Malta abused the laws to try to silence critical journalism exposing alleged corruption.

Another powerful message against SLAPPs was presented by the oil industry whistleblower Jonathan Taylor. And the team from Atlas of Hate explained the importance of their work in mapping legal actions targeting the LGBTQI community in Poland.

Support from EC Vice-President

In her keynote address, European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vēra Jourovà welcomed the new initiative. Afterwards she tweeted her support:

CASE already has more than 30 member organisations and is open to more. The website will serve as a repository of materials to assist public watchdogs in responding to legal attacks, host research CASE is conducting on legal intimidation and other data, and map out legal services and pro bono lawyers available across Europe.

Read news by categories:

Related news

Statement

Cyprus: Call for thorough investigations into surveillance of Makarios Drousiotis

We are highly concerned about the alleged surveillance of journalist Makarios Drousiotis, and the lack of prompt, adequate or thorough investigation of the matter.

READ MORE
Feature

Greece: International press freedom mission to Athens

Between 25 and 27 September 2023, eight international press freedom and freedom of expression organisations will conduct a joint advocacy and fact-finding mission to Athens.

READ MORE
Statement

Public Letter on the role of the European Board for Media Services

We call on the European Parliament to strengthen the EMFA’s state advertising provisions and by doing so, ensure that media freedom can flourish in the European Union.

READ MORE
Press release

Polish media grapple with unprecedented challenges and uncertain future as the country faces electoral crossroads

At the conclusion of their press freedom mission to Warsaw from 11-13 September, partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) declared that the media and journalists in Poland are facing unprecedented challenges including legal threats, financial precarity, political pressure, regulatory capture and growing polarisation.

READ MORE
Statement

Government of Malta must publish Committee of Experts on Media report

We call on the government of Malta to publish without further delay the report by the Committee of Experts on Media, the body tasked with advising the Government on implementing the recommendations of the Public Inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

READ MORE
Statement

Ukraine: Call for an End to Russian War Crimes Against Journalists in Ukraine

We, the undersigned journalists, press freedom organizations, and unions, write this statement to denounce the war crimes committed by the Russian Federation against journalists in Ukraine and to call for immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable.

READ MORE