Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the UK should get legal aid to defend themselves against SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation), a report has argued.

Index on Censorship said SLAPPs had been “primarily associated” with other forms of public participation such as investigative journalism, but survivors of SGBV were subjected to similar “legal harassment – often with profound consequences” in a bid to stop them speaking out.

It quoted from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) warning notice on SLAPPs, issued in 2022 and updated in 2024, which said that “legal representation must not become intimidatory through the use of heavy-handed tactics that are oppressive or abusive.”

However, the report said codes of conduct were “redundant unless regu

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