OHCHR, Oct. 23, 2020
NEW YORK (23 October 2020) – Scholars and academic institutions must be given the freedom to pursue and disseminate knowledge without harassment, repression, threats and attacks by state or non-state actors, a UN human rights expert told the UN General Assembly today.
“The horrific incident last week in which a teacher was decapitated on the street for what he had discussed in class was a chilling reminder of the violent attacks on freedom of expression. In combating such attacks, States must respect their obligations under international law,” said Irene Khan, UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
“In almost every region of the world, academics face harassment, retaliation, repression, imprisonment and sometimes even death for the issues they pursue, the ideas they explore, the questions they raise, and the methodologies they bring to bear on public policy,” Khan said in presenting to the General Assembly a report on the significance of freedom of opinion and expression to academic freedom.
The report, prepared by her predecessor, addresses the broad scope of academic freedom, and notes the protection offered by a wide range of human rights, including the right to freedom of opinion and expression. It underlines the vital role of the academic community in democratic society, and calls on governments to refrain from attacking scholars and eroding the autonomy of academic institutions. It recommends the international human rights system to monitor academic freedom as a measure of human rights.
In full: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26412&LangID=E
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