CASE is a coalition of non-governmental organisations from across Europe united in recognition of the threat posed to public watchdogs by Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs)
COALITION AGAINST SLAPPS IN EUROPE
We are a coalition of non-governmental organisations from across Europe united in recognition of the threat posed to public watchdogs by SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation).
Pursued by wealthy and powerful litigants, SLAPPs are an abuse of the legal system and a threat to democracy. They attempt to intimidate and silence public watchdogs through lengthy and expensive litigation that drains a target’s resources and chills critical voices.
On behalf of journalists, activists, whistle blowers, rights defenders and other watchdogs targeted by these tactics, we work to expose legal harassment and intimidation, protect the rights of those who speak out, and advocate for comprehensive protective measures and reform.
OUR APPROACH IS THREE-FOLD
Exposing SLAPPs and those who use them
We work to expose the worst SLAPP offenders and their preferred techniques. By exposing SLAPP offenders to public scrutiny and criticism, we aim to deter the use of these abusive practices and fight back against a culture of legal harassment.
Building resilience to SLAPPS
We provide resources to public watchdogs on how to best protect themselves from being targeted by a SLAPP, and on what to do if they are. We connect SLAPP targets to those who can assist, drawing on a wide network of lawyers, NGOs and advocacy organisations to provide legal expertise, campaign assistance and emergency funding where circumstances permit.
Advocating for law reform
We urge policy makers to protect public watchdogs from SLAPP suits and advocate for stronger safeguards in law.
How are we funded
CASE is currently funded by the Open Society Foundations (OSF). This is the first round of funding the coalition received. The grant is for a total of €258,242 ($300,000) that is used for advocacy work of the coalition. This includes funding for the coordination of the coalition, making technical assessments of the European Commission’s anti-SLAPP initiative, gathering intel from EU institutions on SLAPPs and organising the European anti-SLAPP conference, among other things.
Here is how the fund was allocated to sub-grantees:
- The European Centre for Non-for-Profit Law (ECNL) is the financial host of the OSF grant. €60,542 of the grant was allocated to ECNL to administer the fund and travel costs for the coalition.
- The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation was allocated €86,700 to coordinate the CASE coalition and different working groups within the coalition, ongoing research and mapping of SLAPP cases in Europe, to finalise the Anti-SLAPP report that was published in March 2022, and to manage and subcontract the web development and design of CASE’s website.
- Transparency International heads EU advocacy within CASE, for which it was allocated €30,000.
- The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) was allocated €26,000 from the grant to organise the 2022 Anti-SLAPP conference held in Strasbourg.
- Civil Liberties Union Europe was allocated €20,000 to focus on the policy development and legal research linked to SLAPPs.
- Article19 was allocated €20,000 to lead CASE’s communications activities.
- Umweltinstitut München was allocated €15,000 from the grant to head CASE’s campaigns.
In January 2023, CASE was awarded a further €40,000 by Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer (FPH) for legal work and advocacy on the EU Anti SLAPP Directive.
How are we governed
The Steering Committee (SC) is responsible for securing the governance structures so as to ensure that the coalition’s work is coordinated, strategically aligned, and conducted in an inclusive and transparent manner. The SC includes:
- Flutura Kusari (Senior Legal Advisor, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom)
- Charlie Holt (Legal Counsel, Greenpeace International)
- Sarah Clarke (Head of Europe and Central Asia, Article19)
- Anna Myers (Executive Director, Whistleblowing International Network)
For more information, please contact CASE’s Steering Committee at: steeringcommittee@the-case.eu