Epi(1)

When Speaking Out Comes with a Lawsuit: BCSDN Launches Regional Campaign Against SLAPPs

byФОНДАЦИЈА БАЛКАНСКА МРЕЖА ЗА РАЗВОЈ НА ГРАЃАНСКОТО ОПШТЕСТВО СКОПЈЕ

One lawsuit lands on the table. Then another. And another. Eventually, the person trying to speak is almost hidden behind a wall of legal cases.

This is the story at the centre of BCSDN’s new regional campaign against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) — and a reality increasingly confronting journalists, activists, CSOs, environmental and human rights defenders, and citizens who speak out on matters of public interest across the Western Balkans.

The impact therefore reaches beyond those directly targeted. SLAPPs can create a wider chilling effect on public participation, weakening critical scrutiny and discouraging others from raising issues of public interest.

SLAPPs misuse legal proceedings to intimidate, exhaust or silence critical voices. They do not need to succeed in court to have an impact: lengthy proceedings, legal costs, stress and uncertainty can be enough to discourage people from speaking out or participating in public debate.

One lawsuit. Many silenced voices.

The impact therefore reaches beyond those directly targeted. SLAPPs can create a wider chilling effect on public participation, weakening critical scrutiny and discouraging others from raising issues of public interest.

The campaign builds on BCSDN’s regional work on SLAPPs, which has sought to broaden understanding of the issue beyond attacks on journalists alone and draw attention to the experiences of civil society and other public-interest actors. It also highlights the role of civil society in documenting cases, supporting those targeted and advocating for stronger safeguards.

At the heart of the campaign is a regional video showing how legal pressure can gradually build a wall around those who speak out — and how that wall can be dismantled through stronger legal safeguards, early recognition, accessible legal support, systematic documentation and public solidarity.

The campaign will be rolled out across the region in local languages through BCSDN and members, raising awareness of SLAPPs, their impact on public participation and the need for stronger protection against their misuse.

Because when one voice is pushed into silence, the impact does not stop there.

SLAPPs: A slap in the face of truth. A blow to us all.

This post was originally published on this site

Продолжи со читање

  • Educational workshops: Knowing Your Rights Is the First Step Towards Exercising Them

    Knowing Your Rights Is the First Step Towards Exercising Them. On 23 and 24 September 2026, LET Station organized two educational workshops focused on citizens’ rights and practical administrative procedures for exercising those rights. The workshops aimed to provide participants with practical knowledge and greater confidence when dealing with institutions. Through concrete examples and practical…

  • Insights from Sweden for Strengthening Democratic Resilience and Information Integrity

    A delegation of journalists, editors, fact-checkers, media experts, and representatives of institutions from North Macedonia took part in a study visit to Stockholm, organized by the Delegation of the European Union and the Macedonian Institute for Media (MIM), within the framework of the project “Building Synergies Against Disinformation, Including on EU Policies and Activities.” During […]

  • Advanced Training on the Implementation of Environmental Justice

    On 21 September 2026, an advanced training on the implementation of environmental justice was held at the Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors, bringing together judges, public prosecutors and judicial associates. The training covered several aspects of the practical application of European standards in the field of environmental justice. Judge Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska presented the […]

  • Dissemination of the project “Civil Education for Democratic Resilience

    During the project “Civil Education for Democratic Resilience”, we had the opportunity to learn more about democracy, civil education and the role of young people in society. One of the main topics was the European Union and the opportunities it offers to young people, especially in the fields of education, mobility, volunteering and youth participation. […]

  • Working Meeting with the Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Mr. Gjoko Velkovski

    The President of the Association of Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Other Disabilities – Veles held a working meeting with Mr. Gjoko Velkovski, Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth. The meeting focused on the work of the Association and the current challenges in the provision of social services, with particular emphasis on their availability, […]
    The post Working Meeting with the Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, Mr. Gjoko Velkovski appeared first on Здружение на лица со церебрална парализа и други попречености – Велес.