NEIGHBOURHOOD AND ENLARGEMENT - Journalists, lawyers and activists work together to counter SLAPPs in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Journalists, lawyers, and activists in Bosnia and Herzegovina are intensifying efforts to combat SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), aimed at silencing critical voices and discouraging public interest reporting with the support of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility III''. Faced with lawsuits intended to intimidate and financially drain them, journalists, lawyers, and activists in Bosnia and Herzegovina are taking action to protect free speech and the right to report on matters of public interest. With support from the Council of Europe providing target training and support, key stakeholders are now more equipped to recognise and combat SLAPPs.

date: 04/02/2025

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Contact: Elsa Papageorgiou

The training sessions organised as part of the Council of Europe’s “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PROFREX) project” have played a pivotal role in building resilience against SLAPPs. The sessions are crucial for introducing the anti-SLAPP concept into the legal framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina and are currently the only form of awareness-raising on SLAPPs in the country. They help inform legal professionals and the wider public about European efforts to protect freedom of speech.

The “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PROFREX)” is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, a co-operation initiative, running from 2023 until 2026.