Dear colleagues,

We are honored to invite you to the Anti-SLAPP conference, organized by Partners Serbia, BIRN Serbia, and CHRIS Network, held on Monday, May 26, 2025, at the Envoy Conference Center in Belgrade. (Gospodar-Jevremova 47, Belgrade), From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is organized within the project "Anti-SLAPP Initiative Serbia - Strengthening the resilience of civil society and media", with the support of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia. The conference is also supported by the OSCE Mission in Serbia and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue.

This event will bring together lawyers, civil society representatives, activists, and representatives of international organizations to jointly consider the growing problem of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP lawsuits) in Serbia.

SLAPP lawsuits are increasingly being used to intimidate and silence journalists, activists, and representatives of civil society who speak about issues of public interest. Such actions threaten democratic values, freedom of expression, and the fundamental right to participate in public life. The conference aims to raise awareness, enable the exchange of experiences, and offer solutions to protect individuals and organizations from abuses of the judicial system.

The conference will begin with a screening of a short promotional video about BIRN's documentary film "Slap in the Name of the People", produced as part of the project, followed by opening remarks by representatives of the European Union Delegation to Serbia and the OSCE Mission. During the day, participants will discuss in three thematic panels: the experiences of victims of SLAPP lawsuits and their legal representatives, comparative practices in Europe, and challenges in building an adequate legislative framework in Serbia.

This is a unique opportunity to dialogue and network with prominent expert judges, lawyers, human rights activists, and civil sector representatives, who are committed to strengthening legal guarantees for freedom of expression and active civic participation.

Please confirm your presence at the event by registering via the following link by Thursday, May 22, 2025.

If you cannot attend the conference live, you can follow the event on Partner Serbia's YouTube channel.

Agenda

We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Sincerely,

Partners Serbia