On 18-19 April 2023, the Committee of Experts on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (MSI-SLP) held its third meeting. in her welcome address, Ms Artemiza-Tatiana Chisca, Secretary to the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) and Head of the Media and Internet Division of the Council of Europe, provided information on relevant developments in the standard-setting activities of the Council of Europe and on the upcoming Campaign on the Safety of Journalists. Opening remarks were also provided by Mr Taavo Lumiste, Chair of the CDMSI. The Committee discussed the revised draft Recommendation on countering Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), took note of the roadmap and agreed on the way to move forward.
MSI-SLP Committee of Experts on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation
4-5 April 2022
1st meeting
18-19 October 2022
2nd meeting
18-19 April 2023
3rd meeting
17-18 October 2023
4th meeting
A non-exhaustive list of relevant Council of Europe standards and other documents
Recommendations and Declarations of the Committee of Ministers
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on promoting a favourable environment for quality journalism in the digital age (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 17 March 2022 at the 1429th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the roles and responsibilities of internet intermediaries (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 7 March 2018 at the 1309th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
- Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 13 April 2016 at the 1253rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
- Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the Desirability of International Standards dealing with Forum Shopping in respect of Defamation, “Libel Tourism”, to Ensure Freedom of Expression (Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 4 July 2012 at the 1147th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
Ministerial Conference decisions
Studies and reports
- “A mission to inform: journalists at risk speak out” co-authored by Prof Marilyn Clark and Mr William Horsley
- Journalists under pressure - Unwarranted interference, fear and self-censorship in Europe
- Council of Europe study DGI(2019)04, Liability and jurisdictional issues in online defamation cases, Rapporteur: Emeric Prévost
- Information Society Department annual report on the state of freedom of expression in Council of Europe member States in 2021
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
- 2022 Annual report by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe - Moving forward
- 2021 Report by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe State of Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law - A democratic renewal for Europe
- Information Documents SG/Inf(2021)36, Current trends in threats to Freedom of Expression: interference with the coverage of public events, broadcasting bans and strategic lawsuits, 22 November 2021
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
- Resolution 1577(2007) “Towards decriminalisation of defamation” (4 October 2007)
- Resolution 2317 (2020) “Threats to media freedom and journalists’ security in Europe” (28 January 2020)
- Countering SLAPPs: an imperative for the democratic society, Motion for a resolution | Doc. 15419 | 06 December 2021 - Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists
- Annual Report 2023 by the Partner Organisations to the Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists “War in Europe and the Fight for the Right to Report"
- Annual Report 2022 by the Partner Organisations to the Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists “Defending Press Freedom in Times of Tension and Conflict”
- Annual Report 2021 by the partner organisations to the Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists "Wanted! Real action for media freedom in Europe"
Other tools
- Freedom of Expression, thematic factsheet - Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, April 2021
- Implementation Guide to Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 on the Protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors
- Defamation webpage Defamation and relevant leaflet on Defamation
- Guide on Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Freedom of expression
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"
Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights
