FIBGAR delivers lecture to postgraduate students on SLAPPs: New Anti-democratic Threats”

On the 31st of May, our project partner FIBGAR delivered a lecture on “SLAPPs: new anti-democratic threats” for students of the Master's Course in Governance and Human Rights of Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM).

During the 4-hour class, the 75 students enrolled in the course had the opportunity to explore for the first time the phenomenon of strategic lawsuits against public participation through the analysis of real cases. Using a case-based approach students engaged in discussion on the extent of these abuses of law and judiciary and the consequences in terms of governance and human rights.

The audience included students from a broad range of backgrounds, such as lawyers, the staff of national institutions and NGOs, journalists, government officials, and many others.

In fact, the Master’s Course combines both taught and research aspects, combining legal, political and social perspectives to produce a space for reflection and debate on the current challenges of democratic governance and the necessary institutional reforms for the defence of fundamental rights in today’s global societies.

To tackle SLAPPs, it is pivotal to extend anti-SLAPP training to all those professionals involved in consolidating governance-related reforms, and strengthening national institutions to promote the culture of democracy, human rights, access to justice, anti-corruption through improved accountability and transparency, and the rule of law.