On 14 October 2026, Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Law welcomed Professor Sara De Vido for a lecture on gender perspectives on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). Professor De Vido is Full Professor of International Law at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, and Senior Expert on Violence against Women at the European Equality Law Network.
SLAPPs are abusive legal proceedings used to intimidate or silence those who participate in public debate. Professor De Vido examined their implications for democracy and human rights, highlighting the particular vulnerabilities faced by women who speak out about harassment and violence. Her presentation emphasised the need for gender-sensitive responses that address power imbalances and gender stereotypes.
Situating recent European developments within the broader international legal framework, Professor De Vido introduced the Council of Europe’s Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 and the EU’s Anti-SLAPP Directive, Directive (EU) 2024/1069. She explained the political and institutional context that shaped the Directive and discussed its distinction between manifestly unfounded claims and abusive court proceedings.
Drawing on the case of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the murdered Maltese investigative journalist, Professor De Vido explored the cross-border dimensions of SLAPPs and the burdens they impose on those targeted. She also examined how gender stereotypes can shape abusive litigation. In particular, she discussed how the #MeToo movement increased the visibility of survivors’ experiences while also prompting retaliatory defamation proceedings.
To conclude, Professor De Vido introduced recent publications reflecting her wider research interests, including the open-access volume Gendering International Legal Responses to Environmental Chronic Emergencies, co-edited with Deborah Russo and Enzamaria Tramontana (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2026).
The lecture offered valuable insights into the relationship between gender, access to justice and freedom of expression, encouraging reflection on how legal systems can better protect public participation.
This special lecture series are part of the “Lawyer Training Program for Globalization,” funded by a donation from the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation.
