Anti SLAPP Toolkit

Activists challenging state or corporate power in the African mining and extractives sector face significant risks due to the vested interests of these powerful entities in maintaining the status quo. This sector, which continues to follow a colonial model focused on extracting cheap raw materials at the expense of community and workers’ rights, presents numerous challenges. Women suffer disproportionately from mining activities through the loss of land rights, livelihoods, and an increase in crime. The repression of environmental justice activists is a widespread issue across the African continent, necessitating a comprehensive toolkit for communities, activists, lawyers, and other environmental defenders.

The development of the Anti-SLAPP Toolkit involved extensive research, consultation, and collaboration with stakeholders from various countries and backgrounds. Engaging with environmental rights defenders, especially those from communities affected by extractive activities, the toolkit addresses the unique needs and challenges faced by these individuals. Tailored for use across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone jurisdictions, it provides practical guidance, case studies, and advocacy tools. The toolkit includes strategies for identifying and responding to SLAPP lawsuits, legal resources on relevant laws, and tools for raising awareness and mobilising support. By offering accessible and user-friendly resources, it aims to empower communities and individuals, particularly women, to effectively challenge legal repression and promote environmental justice.