This week, the Croatian Parliament is expected to adopt the Act on the Protection of Persons Engaged in Public Participation, thereby transposing the European Anti-SLAPP Directive into Croatian law. While the Directive establishes minimum standards of protection, the Croatian legislator has not sought to go beyond those minimum requirements.
“For years, the Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA) has been fighting against SLAPP lawsuits as an abuse of the justice system. Journalists are not the only targets, human rights defenders, whistleblowers, activists and even academics are also affected. That is why we initiated the creation of the informal #catalyst network, bringing together organisations targeted by SLAPP lawsuits so that we can continue, together, defending the public’s right to know,” the CJA said in a statement published on its Facebook page.
CJA President Hrvoje Zovko stressed that the organisation’s efforts are far from over.
“SLAPP lawsuits are among the most insidious methods of attacking journalism. They are not about seeking justice, they are about intimidation. They are not intended to protect reputation, but to silence those who question power and expose abuses within the system. The Croatian Journalists’ Association has been fighting this abuse of the justice system for years. We have succeeded in making SLAPP lawsuits an issue of public importance. But the fight is not over. We will continue to oppose anyone who attacks the freedom of journalism and media freedom in this way. We will stand by our colleagues and defend the public’s right to know. The fight continues,” Zovko said.