Materials on SLAPPs
Legal accountability advocates are increasingly subject to lawsuits by companies, often for defamation. These are called Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). This type of legal harassment is often not intended to be successful, but rather is designed to silence human rights defenders by tying them up in costly and lengthy litigation processes.
Examples of lawsuits by companies
See our case profiles on lawsuits filed by companies against advocates
Sierra Leone environmentalist fights contempt charges in High Court, Farmland Grab, 9 Nov 2019
Canada: Taseko Mines' libel lawsuit against critics of gold-copper mine to be considered on appeal after judge calls it a strategic lawsuit against public participation, Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun (Canada), 3 Jun 2017
So. Africa: MRC subsidiary sues two NGO attorneys and a community activist for alleged defamation; NGO says will resist attempts by the company to intimidate them, Centre for Environmental Rights, May 2017
Myanmar and Thai NGOs support 'Nation' reporter hit by suit for 'defaming' mining firm, Nation (Myanmar), May 2017
ACLU Lawsuit Forces Landfill Company to Agree to Free Speech and Environmental Protections, Carolyn Fortuna, Planetsave (USA), 10 Feb 2017
Hinatuan Mining sues Philippine Misereor Partnership for libel over reports on environmental issues around its operations, Joe Torres, Catholic News Asia, Jun 2016
French court hears defamation lawsuit brought by Vinci against Sherpa NGO after it alleged forced labour in Qatar, Sherpa, Jun 2016
Magaliesberg watchdog 'slapped' by miner, Fiona Macleod, Mail & Guardian (So. Africa), Jun 2011
Recommendations on the Protection of Those who Exercise Their Rights and Freedoms from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participations, Human Rights Lawyers Association, Oct 2019
Silencing the Critics: How big polluters try to paralyse environmental and human rights advocacy through the courts, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, 30 Sep 2019
[FR] On ne se taira pas: Site in French about SLAPPs created byfor NGOs, journalists, academics etc. targeted by these lawsuits.
Protect the Protest website: Coalition of organizations working to protect the rights to speak out, criticise, and protest peacefully
Silencing Human Rights and Environmental Defenders: The overuse of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPP) by Corporations, Jeremie Gilbert Roehampton, on CSR & Business Ethics blog, 30 Apr 2018
Video interview: Andy Hall on his counter-suit against Natural Fruit & Thai authorities, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Jun 2017
Why it's getting harder (and more dangerous) to hold companies accountable, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, on openDemocracy, May 2017
6 Ways Corporate Lawsuits Kill Free Speech (and How to Fight Back!), Greenpeace, May 2017
Corporate impunity is common & remedy for victims is rare – Corporate Legal Accountability Annual Briefing, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Apr 2017
[FR] Rapport sur les procédures bâillons, Mazeaud Commission, Apr 2017
Human rights comes under corporate attack, Global Legal Post, Jan 2015
Corporate Legal Accountability Annual Briefing, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Jan 2015
How about a SLAPP for your trouble?, Sudeep Chakravarti, Livemint.com (India), November 2013