Global Academic Freedom Under Threat, Warns UN Expert

“We must take this seriously as these attacks threaten both our democracies and our capacities to collectively respond to crises humanity currently faces,” Shaheed emphasized.

People exercising their academic freedom face repression in every region of the world, whether through direct and violent means or more subtle methods, an independent expert warned today.

In her report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Farida Shaheed, highlighted that restrictions aimed at controlling public opinion undermine free thinking and limit academic and scientific debate.

“We must take this seriously as these attacks threaten both our democracies and our capacities to collectively respond to crises humanity currently faces,” Shaheed emphasized.

She stressed that academic freedom is as vital for societies as a free press or an independent judiciary. Academic freedom, according to Shaheed, involves the duty to seek truth, share information according to ethical and professional standards, and address contemporary problems and needs of all members of society. “Therefore, we must not politicize its exercise,” she added.

Shaheed noted that various actors impose these restrictions, including governments, religious or political groups, paramilitary and armed groups, terrorist groups, narco-traffickers, corporate entities, philanthropists, influencers, and sometimes even the educational institutions themselves along with school boards, staff, students, and parents’ associations.

Institutional autonomy is crucial for ensuring academic freedom, Shaheed said, but academic, research, and teaching institutions must also respect this autonomy. “Institutions must uphold freedom of expression on campus according to international standards and have a specific responsibility to promote debate around controversies that may arise on campus, following academic standards,” she stated.

Referring to recent student protests on the Gaza crisis in various countries, Shaheed expressed deep concern over the violent crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators, including arrests, detentions, police violence, surveillance, and disciplinary measures against members of the educational community exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

Shaheed called for the endorsement and implementation of the Principles for Implementing the Right to Academic Freedom, drafted by a working group of United Nations experts, scholars, and civil society actors, based on international law and practice. “I believe implementing these Principles would improve the state of academic freedom worldwide,” she concluded.