SLAPP Workshop

On the 6th of April, KAS RLPSEE, together with One World Romania and Leadres for Justice, organised a workshop regadring cases of judicial harassment abusing journalists and activists through the form of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), wich are constantly on the rise in Europe. The workshop addresses investigative journalists, documentary filmmakers, media professionals, legal experts and freedom of expression specialists. These lawsuits are increasingly being used to intimidate professionals and citizens who are merely exercising their fundamental rights. SLAPPs tend to impose social, economic and psychological burdens on targets. Given that 2024 is a year with multiple electoral stakes in Romania and 4 rounds of elections, the pressure on journalists, in particular, will be even greater. This SLAPP workshop was meant to provide useful advice on how to deal with the judicial pressure when you're making investigative journalism & documentary. Discussions focused on national and European legislation (anti-SLAPP directive), and the most common threats faced by journalists. The workshop offered experts the possibility to present guidelines and advice on how to prevent, mitigate, and protect yourself from legal threats due to your everyday work as a journalist or as an activist.