As part of the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter Campaign, an International Training of Trainers on SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) took place on 9–10 October 2025 at the Government Palace (Hrzánský Palace) in Prague, hosted by the Czech Government.

The training gathered judicial trainers, judges, and prosecutors from Council of Europe member States to enhance their capacity to identify, understand, and respond to SLAPPs — abusive lawsuits designed to intimidate or silence journalists and other public watchdogs.

Participants examined European legal instruments, including the Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), shared experiences, and discussed strategies for integrating SLAPP awareness into national judicial training programmes.

To complement the training with a real-world perspective, participants were invited to attend the Press Play Prague International Film Festival, for the screening of  the documentary Big Boys Gone Bananas!. The film recounts a real-life SLAPP case involving filmmaker Fredrik Gertten and a multinational corporation, illustrating the David vs. Goliath dynamics that courts and civil society often confront in protecting media freedom. 

This activity reflects the Council of Europe’s commitment to protecting media freedom, safeguarding journalists, and reinforcing the independence and resilience of judicial systems across Europe.