The Rising Threat of SLAPPs to Climate Action: How to Prepare and Fight Back
Thursday, April 10th, 3-4:30pm CET
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are abusive lawsuits designed to shut down criticism or protest related to issues in the public interest. These lawsuits are filed to intimidate and harass the speaker into silence, and typically lack legal merit. SLAPPs are frequently used by fossil fuel companies to retaliate against climate defenders, including community members, scientists, and other critics.
Global Climate Legal Defense is hosting a series of webinars to help educate the broader climate movement about the rising threat from SLAPPs, and how to prepare, prevent, and fight back.
Join us on April 10th for the first in our series to learn from leading experts on how SLAPPs are currently impacting climate defenders worldwide. You will also learn about existing anti-SLAPP communities and coalitions, and how to engage in the movement to defend free speech.
Can’t make it on April 10? Please RSVP anyways. We will send out the recording and will be hosting a series of additional webinars on SLAPPs that focus on specific countries who face higher threats from SLAPPs.
Do you have language requirements?: If you need translation services, please email hello@climatelegaldefense.org with your request.
PANELISTS:
Daniel Simons, Senior Legal Counsel Strategic Defence, Greenpeace International
Daniel Simons is Senior Legal Counsel Strategic Defence at Greenpeace International's Legal Unit. He oversees a team that assesses risks of protest actions, investigations and publications, handles incoming campaign-related litigations, and protects the rights that the organisation needs to play its watchdog role, such as freedom of expression, association and assembly. Daniel has been involved in the defence of several major SLAPP suits, including claims for $100m by Canadian logging giant Resolute Forest Products, and $900M by US pipeline company Energy Transfer. Daniel has served in the Legal Unit, with a brief hiatus, since 2008. His other experience includes working as a legal officer at Article 19, the global campaign for freedom of expression, and as legal officer freedom of assembly, expression and information at the Open Society Justice Initiative.
Lady Nancy Zuluaga Jaramillo, Senior Legal Researcher and Project Coordinator in the Civic Freedoms & Human Rights Defenders program, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Lady Nancy Zuluaga Jaramillo is a Senior Legal Researcher & Project Coordinator in the Civic Freedoms & Human Rights Defenders program at the Business & Rights Resource Centre. She leads a global research on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in the organization and coordinates the Strategic Litigation Network in Business and Human Rights in Latin America.
Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, originally from Togo, was appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association in March 2018. Prior to his appointment, he led the International Service for Human Rights' (ISHR) work supporting human rights defenders in transitional states and coordinated the organization's work in Africa as its Advocacy Director.
Charlie Holt, European Lead, Global Climate Legal Defense
Charlie Holt leads the European work of Global Climate Legal Defense (CliDef), an organisation that works to support climate defenders facing legal threats for their work. He sits on the Steering Committee of the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE), co-chairs the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, and previously sat on the European Commission's Expert Group in SLAPPs. Charlie previously worked with Greenpeace International, where he built up the organisation's SLAPP resilience strategy and helped set up the US anti-SLAPP coalition Protect the Protest. Charlie is a member of the Bar of England & Wales and holds an LL.M. degree in international human rights law.
MODERATOR:
Alfred Brownell, Founding President, Global Climate Legal Defense
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Below you will find research and tools that may be useful to review before the webinar.
Global Climate Legal Defense: What is a SLAPP Lawsuit?
The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: SLAPPs platform
Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE): Guidebook on how to prevent and respond to SLAPPs and How SLAPPs increasingly threaten democracy in Europe
EarthRights International: The Fossil Fuel Industry’s Use of SLAPPs and Judicial Harassment in the United States
Protect the Protest: Guide for Activists on Reducing Exposure to SLAPPs