On June 25, at the initiative of the Committee on Freedom of Speech, a special Working Group was established to develop effective mechanisms to counter strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP). Such lawsuits are often used to exert pressure on journalists and human rights defenders, forcing them to refrain from covering socially important topics or to cease criticism of influential individuals or organizations.
Key tasks for the Working Group include:
Clearly defining in law what constitutes a SLAPP lawsuit;
Developing legal safeguards to prevent abuse of procedural rights;
Introducing procedural mechanisms to protect against such judicial abuses.
This is Ukraine’s commitment in the process of European integration. We must define SLAPP in Ukrainian legislation in a way that fully aligns with international standards. Additionally, we need to find safeguards against abuse of the right to file lawsuits, as SLAPP is precisely such an abuse aimed at creating obstacles for activists and journalists to perform their social and professional functions, diverting attention to lengthy and mostly baseless legal proceedings,” said Member of Parliament Yaroslav Yurchyshyn during the roundtable discussion «How Ukraine Will Counter SLAPP,» when he announced the creation of the working group. He was the head of it.
The Working Group comprises over 25 members — including Members of Parliament, lawyers, media experts, representatives of the Ombudsman’s office, and community leaders.
It is expected that this cross-sectoral format will enable the creation of coordinated mechanisms to protect journalists, human rights defenders, and all participants in public dialogue from pressure through the abuse of legal claims.
Additionally, the Committee plans to hold consultations with stakeholders — human rights defenders, media representatives, and legal experts. This work will be a logical continuation of the European strategy to counter SLAPP, including recommendations from the Council of Europe and the European Union’s new directive-based approach.