On the 25th and 26th of April the Council of Europe is set to address the pressing issue of SLAPPs at international conference hosted in Warsaw, organised by Agora, ARTICLE 19 Europe, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, Prague Civil Society Center, and Watchdog Poland. The conference aims to raise awareness about the impact of SLAPPs on freedom of expression and the role of journalists and other public watchdogs in holding those in power accountable.

Irena Guidikova, Head of the Council of Europe’s Department of Democratic Institutions and Freedoms will deliver opening remarks and intervene in Panel 2 of the Conference. She will address the state of freedom of expression in Europe and present the Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 5 April 2024.

The Conference will see the participation of distinguished international and Polish experts discussing available legal instruments, draw from best practices in other countries, and consider how authorities and civil society should join efforts to create concrete and robust safeguards against abusive litigation. Chief editors and journalists from national and local media outlets, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, will also share their experiences.

The conference will be livestreamed online. 

Event Details: Dates: April 25th-26th Location: Warsaw, Poland Translation: provided (PL/EN) Livestream: www.anti-SLAPP.pl Contact for inquiries and interest: anti.slapp.pl@gmail.com