13.03.2025 - Training activity: “The safety of journalists and anti-SLAPP standards”

The School of Magistrates, in cooperation with the Council of Europe, on 13 March, 2025, had the training activity on topic: “The safety of journalists and anti-SLAPP standards” 

This activity was conducted by:   

Experts: Alma Kodraliu and  Albert Kuliçi

Facilitator: Lutfi Dervishi

The purpose of this training was: 

To increase the awareness and the understanding of judges and of prosecutors on challenges encountered by journalists in the exercise of their profession, with special focus on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), as well as to support judges and prosecutors to apply a fair and procedural approach regarding issues that include journalists, by balancing the rights of parties and by preventing the misuse of law to scare and silent media.  

The training was realized by combining presentations (up to 20 - 30 min) with the discussion of issues brought for discussion (self-study questions, questions, answers) and case law exercises & quizzes to encourage and realize the active interaction of participants. 

In this training activity were elaborated different topics, such as: 

• The right to freedom of speech and information and positive obligations of the state; 

European standards deriving from the international legal framework, Recommendation  CM/Rec(2016)4, including standards that derive from the ECtHR jurisprudence. The role of legal professionals for the respect of these frameworks.

• The state of attacks against journalists in Albania: Different forms of attacks including SLAPP; Discussion on challenges of the protection of journalists in Albania; 
• The Albanian legal framework and practices of the investigation of attacks against journalists in Albania; 
• European instruments to fight the use of  SLAPPs;
• Determining criteria and indicators of SLAPPs. How to be identified SLAPPs?
• Examples and discussions on how to be identified SLAPPs;
• Essential procedural protection measures according to European standards. 

In this training activity participated prosecutors, lawyers, legal assistants and legal advisors of the Republic of Albania.