SAR Advocacy Insider

Posted: 16-12-2022 19:32 | Views: 533

LAST MONTH, I had the honor of presenting Free to Think 2022 at the report's formal launch in Monterrey, Mexico. The report analyzes 391 attacks in 65 countries and territories around the world, and underscores the need for governments, civil society, and the academic community to take action for at-risk students and scholars.

The launch took place as part of the First Conference about Academic Freedom in the Americas, organized by the Coalition of Academic Freedom in the Americas (CAFA), and hosted by the University of Monterrey. Long-time and new colleagues from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, the United States, among others, convened to assess the state of attacks on academic freedom in the region, as articulated in Free to Think 2022, and to collectively identify ways to address them.

Despite the severity of these attacks, and despite the gravity of the topic we discussed, I found the event to be wholly inspiring – because of the people involved, the ideas shared, and especially because of the anticipation of our continued work together. It was so energizing to brainstorm in person and to connect in a way that’s been missing these past couple of years.

Much remains to be done. Conference participants made commitments to conduct research, publish articles, make legal submissions, and to gather again at the second CAFA conference in 2023, for which planning is already underway. As was said by SAR’s Executive Director Rob Quinn at the conference, "the fight for academic freedom is the fight for the future." And we look forward to working with our partners in the Americas to continue that fight.

Thank you for all you do,

CLARE ROBINSON

Advocacy Director

Recap and recordings: First Conference about Academic Freedom in the Americas

(Photo Credits: Fernando Gerardo Zapata González)

The First Conference about Academic Freedom in the Americas, organized by CAFA, was held November 10 - 11, at the University of Monterrey, Mexico. The conference featured panels on academic freedom concerns in the region, notably in Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. Other discussions included the effects of gender violence on higher education communities, and the impact of censorship and legislative interference on the higher education sector. Panelists addressed responses to these concerns, including how to implement the Inter-American Principles on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy within the region.

Video recordings of the conference are now available! Access them here: November 10 and November 11.

SAR staff present Free to Think 2022 in Europe

To coincide with the release of the Free to Think 2022 report, SAR Europe’s Advocacy Manager Denise Roche and SAR’s Senior Advocacy Officer Daniel Munier were in Brussels, Belgium on November 30 for a series of meetings facilitated by the European External Action Service (EEAS). They met with the Head of the Human Rights Division of the EEAS to discuss the importance of integrating academic freedom within the EU’s human rights and political country dialogues, and addressed the EU Working Party on Human Rights (COHOM).

COHOM includes representatives from the 27 EU Member States and is responsible for shaping the EU’s position on human rights in the EU’s foreign policy. Questions and statements of support for academic freedom were provided by Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Following the COHOM meeting, Denise and Dan provided an introduction to academic freedom and an overview of Free to Think to staff of the human rights unit of the EEAS, and select geographical desks including Russia, Turkey, Indonesia, and China.

Free to Think 2022 in the press

Free to Think 2022 received an array of press coverage, including in articles addressing regional and global issues highlighted in the report. Visit our website to read a selection of news articles on this year’s installment and read the full report on our website.

Free Professor Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba!

On December 5, SAR and 18 other human rights organizations signed a joint letter of appeal to Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India, calling for the release of Professor Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba. Professor Saibaba is an English professor at Delhi University and a human rights activist who is serving a life sentence.

On October 14, 2022, the Bombay High Court ordered Professor Saibaba released based on a procedural lapse during his prosecution. The following day, however, the Supreme Court suspended the ruling. We are asking the Chief Justice to review Professor Saibaba’s case, reconsider the decision to suspend the Bombay High Court’s release order, and reinstate the high court’s order.

You can help Professor Saibaba by signing this letter. Take action »

Attacks against higher education communities

As reported by SAR's Academic Freedom Monitoring Project

IRAN: Students clash at memorial ceremony

Islamic Azad University, 10/30
On October 30, 2022, students reportedly clashed at Islamic Azad University during a ceremony to honor the victims of an attack on a shrine. Read more »

IRAN: Students clash during on campus protests

Sharif University of Technology, 10/23
On October 23, 2022, students from opposing groups clashed at Sharif University of Technology during campus protests. Read more »

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban restricts available subjects on university entrance exam

Various Institutions, 10/14

On October 14, 2022, it was reported that Taliban officials had barred women from selecting a wide range of subjects for their university entrance exams. Read more »

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban forces forcibly restrict nonviolent student protest

Herat University, 10/2
On October 2, 2022, Taliban forces used force against Herat University students participating in a protest against the bombing of Kaaj Educational Center. Read more »

IRAN: State security forces fire tear gas at peaceful student protesters

University of Isfahan, 10/1
On October 1, 2022, state security forces fired tear gas in an apparent attempt to disperse students participating in a nonviolent protest at University of Isfahan (UI). Read more »

AFGHANISTAN: Suicide bomber carries out deadly attack on educational center

Kaaj Educational Center, 9/30
On September 30, 2022, a suicide bomber carried out an attack on the Kaaj Educational Center in Kabul, leaving 53 dead and 110 injured. Read more »

BANGLADESH: Student organization members attack peers

University of Dhaka, 9/27

On September 27, 2022, alleged members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), a student group affiliated with the country’s ruling party, attacked members of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), a student group affiliated with the BNP political party, on the University of Dhaka’s (DU) campus. Read more »

BURUNDI: Student organization members assault fellow student

University of Burundi, 9/25
On September 25, 2022, alleged members of Imbonerakure, the youth wing of CNDD–FDD (Burundi’s ruling party), physically attacked Emile Mailo Nduwimana, a student at the University of Burundi. Read more »

IRAN: State security forces detain student protesters

University of Tehran, 9/24

On September 24, 2022, state security forces carried out a violent crackdown on a peaceful protest at the University of Tehran. Read more »

MALAWI: Police forcibly disperse student protest

University of Malawi, 9/23

On September 23, 2022, police responding to a student protest at the University of Malawi reportedly fired tear gas at students and campus residence halls after students delivered a petition against the university’s decision to schedule a five-month holiday. Read more »

MYANMAR: Armed activity on university campus

Technology University in Kale, 9/19

On September 19, 2022, non-state armed groups reportedly used explosive devices to carry out an attack on Myanmar military forces occupying the campus of the Technology University in Kale. Read more »

INDONESIA: Civilians and security forces assault student protesters

Unspecified Institution(s), 9/15

On September 15, 2022, civilians and security forces reportedly attacked a group of students from the Islamic Student Association (HMI) who were holding a peaceful protest over fuel prices during a state visit by Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo. Read more »

ETHIOPIA: University facilities damaged in drone strike

Mekelle University, 9/13
On September 13, 2022, Ethiopian military forces conducted drone strikes on Mekelle University. Read more »

Events

Save the Date for Student Advocacy Days in the United States | March 29 - 30, 2023

Scholars at Risk’s annual US Student Advocacy Days convene faculty and students in Washington, DC, to receive training and seek meetings with government representatives to raise awareness about wrongfully detained scholars and students. Read more »

ADVOCACY INSIDER is a monthly summary of actions, reported threats, and media on academic freedom worldwide. Have a question or want to get involved in SAR's advocacy work? Email us at scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu.

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