At its 59th session this week, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a new resolution on the safety of journalists by consensus. The resolution, endorsed by ARTICLE 19, contains new language and more robust commitments. For instance, on strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, the resolution now urges states to take a range of measures to prevent the abusive practice by adopting an early dismissal mechanism, introducing legal support along with remedies for victims, imposing penalties against those who initiate SLAPPs, ending so-called “forum-shopping,” and training judicial professionals in identifying and dealing with such cases. Other new and strong additions concern surveillance, armed conflict and occupation, transnational repression, and social media platforms.
United Nations Human Rights Council. The Safety of Journalists, A/HRC/59/L.20, July 2025. https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/59/L.20