From September 18-20, the third regional conference, “Stronger Together: Journalists and the Judiciary Protect Media Freedoms,” was held in Mavrovo, North Macedonia, organized by the Association of Journalists in North Macedonia, Free Press Unlimited, and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee. Over 90 journalists, judges, and prosecutors gathered to address challenges to media freedom in the Western Balkans, focusing on disinformation, SLAPPs, and the need for stronger legal protections. Marija Vishinova Shemova from BCSDN, presented BCSDN’s regional research on SLAPPs, highlighting how these lawsuits not only target journalists but also CSOs and activists working to protect the civic space and the overall democracy in the region. She stressed the need for increased awareness, legal protections, and capacity building for everyone involved, especially judges. The conference concluded by underscoring the importance of media freedom for democracy and urged alignment with EU standards and stronger regional coalitions. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN