"SLAPPs in Southeast Asia: Legal Frameworks to Protect HRDs", 12 June 2020

The session discussed certain court rulings that have been favourable to human rights defenders and findings contained in the newly released briefing note “Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation: Southeast Asia cases & recommendations for governments, businesses, and civil society”. It presented key challenges faced by HRDs when businesses use SLAPPs to stop or restrict the vital work that HRDs do in their communities, and recommendations to address these challenges. In particular, it:

1. Provided an overview of SLAPPs in Southeast Asia and their impact on the work of HRDs, including a discussion of the current legal frameworks in the region on SLAPPs
2. Presented key challenges faced by HRDs in relation to SLAPPs
3. Offer recommendations for governments and businesses