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Building a Scholars at Risk- Germany Section:
German HEIs
Protecting Threatened Scholars;
Promoting Academic Freedom
DAAD, Bonn
November 14, 2013
Temporary relocation, job
assistance, legal and other
referrals &
urgent actions
Monitoring/reporting on
attacks; advocating for
accountability and increased
protections
Leveraging the
skills and resources of higher
education institutions and
individuals worldwide
Workshops &
publications
exploring higher education’s
role as a pillar of free society
Scholars at Risk is a comprehensive
defender of everyone’s right
to think, question and share ideas,
freely & safely
PROTECTION PREVENTION
NETWORK PROMOTION
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Scholars at Risk Network
Facts & Figures
• Over 1900 requests for assistance from scholars in 122 countries (since 2000)
• Over 330 member institutions in 35 countries, 9 partner networks/SAR sections
• SAR has assisted 500+ scholars directly with temporary academic visits & 700+ with other services
• SAR places 60+ scholars annually & provides advice, referrals, counselling & other services to 75-100
• SAR monitors attacks in 50+ countries
• Over 1,000 have participated in workshops, trainings, conferences to promote academic freedom
Partner Networks & SAR National Sections
SAR’s partner networks (i) coordinate SAR-related activities and (ii) represent their country, region or network in the wider, international SAR Network. They vary in size, structure, activities and local vs. SAR international role.
Partner networks and sections:
• CARA-SAR UK Universities Network (co-organized with CARA)(2006)
• Israel SAR Network (co-organized with Arcadia)(2006)
• Grupo 9 de Universidades, Spain (co-organized with Grupo 9)(2008)
• African Academic Freedom Network (co-organized with NEAR) (2008)
• Arab Society for Academic Freedom (co-organized with NEAR) (2008)
• Scholars at Risk, Irish Section (co-organized with Universities Ireland)(2009)
• UAF-Scholars at Risk Network, Netherlands (co-organized with UAF)(2009)
• Scholars at Risk, Norway Section (2011)
• Scholars at Risk, Canada Section (2012)
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Why are scholars attacked?
• To silence dissent and control the quality and flow of information in society
– Content-based attacks
– Status-based attacks
• Source of attacks may be political, governmental, military, police, paramilitary, terrorist, criminal, business, religious and more
Types of Threats Life/liberty threats
• Harassment– Including surveillance, physical or
sexual intimidation
• Censorship/silencing
• Risk of death/disappearance
• Abuse/violence
• Arrest/imprisonment
• Death/disappearance
• Exile (internal/external)
Career/quality threats
• Obstruction in hiring/promotion– Including professional or personal
slander and defamation
• Interference in research– Including denial of accesses or
permissions, confiscation of notes and computer files
• Resource limitations
• Restrictions on travel/collaboration
Responses: Protection, Prevention & Promotion
Protection Activities:
• Information & Advice
• Temporary relocation
• Scholars in Prison/advocacy
Prevention/Promotion
Activities:
• SAR Speaker Series
• Monitoring and reporting
• Site visits e.g. Tunisia
• Workshops, trainings
• Research & publications
Get Involved: Possible Activities for German members
� Join the network
� Appoint a primary representative to the SAR network
� Form a SAR committee at your institution
� Invite a scholar to campus for a speaking engagement
� Advocate on behalf of an imprisoned scholar
� Contribute an article to the University Values Bulletin
� Organize a performance of a ‘Courage to Think Monologue’
� Host a workshop/training on academic freedom
� Participate in SAR’s project to monitor attacks on higher education
� Participate in SAR’s research projects e.g. AF Index
� Host a scholar (for 6 months up to 2 years)
� Organize HEIs at regional/national level to participate in SAR activities
Scholars at Risk- Germany Section: Proposed Next Steps
� Lessons learned from other sections/models
� Active involvement from 2 to 3 key institutions
� Form planning committee
� Awareness-raising activities e.g. SAR Speaker Series events, Courage to Think monologue, Host a scholar
� Outreach to key stakeholders e.g. HEIs, NGOs, associations, government, policymakers
� Invitation to all German HEIs to join planning meeting
� Launch
� Ongoing coordination of SAR activities in Germany
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More information:
Scholars at Risk Network
New York University
194 Mercer Street, Rm 410
New York, NY 10012, USA
Website: www.scholarsatrisk.org
Email: [email protected]