FIRST EVENT
Webinar – Safeguarding Freedom of Expression against Attempts to Curtail Public Participation: Lessons for France from Canada, Mexico, and Indonesia
This event aimed to reframe the issue of SLAPPs in France through the lens of international experiences, focusing on lessons learned from Canada, Mexico, and Indonesia. Through the analysis of these jurisdictions, the event provided fresh perspectives on how different legal and policy frameworks have addressed SLAPPs and what challenges they have faced in doing so.
Format
This webinar kicked off with a keynote speech on the French context by a representative from the CNCDH, before delving into the experience of each jurisdiction thanks to the contribution of country-specific experts. The possibility for interactive exchange was given to both panellists and attendees through a moderated discussion and Q&A session.
General Objective
By examining international experiences, with a particular focus on Canada, Mexico, and Indonesia, this event explored the legal and policy responses adopted in these jurisdictions, highlighting both effective practices and potential challenges. The discussion assessed the impact of various measures on public participation and identify insights applicable to the French context. This webinar also served as a preparatory step for a subsequent multiregional event, during which participants collaboratively developed policy recommendations tailored to strengthening anti-SLAPP protections in France.
Key Objectives of the Session
- Raise awareness on SLAPPs as a significant public policy issue threatening fundamental freedoms.
- Analyse international good practices by looking at the experiences of non-EU countries (Canada, Mexico, and Indonesia) and the approach they adopted to address and counteract SLAPPs.
- Identify unintended consequences of existing anti-SLAPP legislation, recognising potential risks and formulating preventive solutions.
- Identify policy and legal gaps in France by critically comparing France’s current legal and policy framework against international benchmarks.
- Gather insights from non-European jurisdictions to inform targeted policy recommendations for enhancing protections against SLAPPs in France.
Expected Results
- Gain an enhanced understanding of SLAPPs, their implications, and the urgency of addressing this issue through targeted public policies and legal reforms.
- Learn from successful international models and practices to effectively counteract abusive litigation.
- Develop awareness of potential pitfalls or unintended consequences associated with anti-SLAPP legislation and strategies to mitigate these risks.
- Clearly identify specific legal and policy reforms required in France based on comparative international experiences.
Speakers
Keynote: Fiona Houdin, Legal adviser at the Commission nationale consultative des droits de l’Homme (CNCDH), France
Panel:
- James L. Turk, Director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada
- Lady Nancy Zuluaga Jaramillo, Senior Legal Researcher & Project Coordinator, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), Mexico
- Yogi Bratajaya, legal consultant, with expertise on freedom of expression and human rights in the context of climate change, Member of the Asia-Pacific Youth Advisory Group on Environmental and Climate Justice, Indonesia
Moderation: Zuzanna Nowicka, lawyer at the Freedom of Speech Programme of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), Poland
This event is part of the second cycle of the Building for the Future Initiative, coordinated by On Think Tanks (OTT) and supported by the Open Society Foundations, to amplify student and youth-led think tank initiatives, diverse perspectives and advance innovative policy solutions across Europe and beyond, and encourage the exchange of good practices among regions.
