As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting freedom of expression, the Council of Europe introduced a groundbreaking training curriculum in Kosovo* focused on countering the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Developed by the Council of Europe, this training session responds to the need for accurate application of new standards on SLAPPs.

The two-day event brought together judges and prosecutors to exchange insights and acquire in-depth knowledge about the complexities of SLAPPs and their impact on human rights. The curriculum provided an overview of the latest European legal standards, including the CM/Rec(2024)2 Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Recommendation and the Anti-SLAPP Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1069). Participants gained both theoretical knowledge and practical tools to effectively identify and counter SLAPPs.

This activity was organised within the framework of the action on “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media (PROFREX)”, part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and is implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.