Utrecht Declaration on Academic Freedom adopted

Out of solidarity with threatened colleagues worldwide, the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI) has adopted the Utrecht Declaration on Academic Freedom. This happened during the AHRI Conference on 3 September, held at the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) of Utrecht University.

Academic freedom threatened

Academic freedom is under pressure in many places across the globe. Researchers and students are being persecuted, dismissed, intimidated or even ill-treated in the name of security, public order and counter-terrorism. As recent events in Turkey, Russia and many other countries show, both academic freedom and the right to education are severely threatened by this.

The Utrecht Declaration on Academic Freedom (pdf) that is adopted by AHRI stresses that intimidation and oppression of researchers, teachers and students violates their human rights. This does not only endanger the independence of academic research and teaching, but also free and democratic societies as a whole. In a climate of fear, creative and critical thinking are being suffocated. The Declaration calls upon fellow academics but also authorities at all levels to take a clear stand against these practices and to assist scholars, teachers and students at risk.

AHRI Conferentie 

AHRI, is the global network of academic human rights research institutes. This year, the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) of Utrecht University, hosted AHRI’s annual conference.

At the conference on 2 and 3 September 2016, which also celebrated 35 years of SIM, over 230 international experts gathered and presented their newest research in more than 25 panels. Participants were full of praise for the conference organizers, the facilities of the University, and the city of Utrecht itself.

“This was a great way to showcase Utrecht University”, according to professor Antoine Buyse, director of SIM. The conference closed with an inspiring keynote lecture delivered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein.