Kozminski University has become a partner in the international project Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Observatory (SLAPP Obs), implemented under the CERV-2025-CHAR-LITI programme. The initiative focuses on countering so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), which may be used to exert pressure on journalists, activists, civil society organisations and other individuals speaking out on matters of public importance.
The project will run for 24 months. The consortium is coordinated by the Center for the Study of Democracyin Bulgaria, and the group of partners also includes institutions from Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Italy and Poland. Kozminski University is participating in the project as a partner. The university team consists of Dr Joanna Buchalska, Dr Anna Pudło-Jaremek and Dr Michał Ziółkowski.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the protection of freedom of expression, civil rights, and the rule of law in the European Union through the development of legal, educational and expert activities. One of its most important outcomes will be the creation of the SLAPP Observatory – a platform gathering knowledge, analyses and resources related to cases involving the misuse of legal proceedings against individuals participating in public debate.
The Observatory being created is intended to become a European space for the exchange of knowledge and good practices for lawyers, academics, students, and public decision-makers. The project also includes a training programme for lawyers, a mentoring programme for law students, as well as informational and expert activities addressed to decision-makers and the wider public. Their purpose is to increase awareness of the importance of European Union law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights in protecting civic participation and countering legal abuse. The priorities of this call also included raising awareness of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, strengthening civic space, and supporting strategic litigation.
For Kozminski University, participation in the project is an important element in the development of international cooperation, particularly within the activities of the College of Law. The project creates space for the development of modern educational tools, strengthening expertise in EU law and fundamental rights, and involving students and researchers in European cooperation networks.
