Environmental and climate journalists in Africa face a serious yet underreported risk from SLAPPs, according to a new report from the International Press Institute (IPI).
The report, “SLAPPs against environmental and climate journalists in Africa: A perfect storm for harassment” is based on interviews and research on seven countries in West, Central, and East Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Mozambique, and South Africa. It looks at existing initiatives to defend journalists against vexatious legal cases, identifies legislation that is open to abuse by powerful actors, and traces key trends and patterns seen across the region, while also putting forward recommendations to address the threat SLAPPs pose.
The report calls on states and other stakeholders to take steps to protect journalists from SLAPPs, including the passage of anti-SLAPP legislation and repealing laws open to abuse; strengthening monitoring and training initiatives; and expanding advocacy, legal, and financial support for countering SLAPPs.
The report is published as part of IPI’s Africa programme, which seeks to protect and advance press freedom and the safety of journalists in Africa, focusing on particularly at-risk groups such as climate and environmental reporters.