On 2 August 2023, the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition submitted evidence in response to the public consultation on the draft text of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation on Countering Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
The Coalition welcomes the Draft Recommendation as a vital baseline from which Council of Europe member states, including the UK, can seek to address the impact of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in national legislation. It also includes other important measures, such as regulation and support directed at those targeted by SLAPPs.
The Coalition has included a number of proposed amendments aimed at strengthening the Draft Recommendation. This includes:
- addressing the UK’s existing and inadequate processes to dispose of SLAPPs before costly and time-intensive legal hearings;
- responding to the costs environment that can make lodging a defence too costly to even consider; and,
- improving the indicators presented to identify SLAPPs.
To read the Coalition’s submission, click here
