The Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas (the Coalition), chaired by the University of Monterrey, Scholars at Risk, and the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC) at the University of Ottawa, fosters the promotion, protection, and respect for academic freedom, with the goal of developing relevant human rights standards that serve to protect higher education spaces, to identify best practices, and to strengthen democratic principles in the Americas.
With the adoption of the Inter-American Principles on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Americas has an instrument that systematizes key recommendations for the protection of academic freedom and university autonomy.
Despite the growing recognition of the importance of academic freedom for free and democratic societies, higher education is under constant threat in the Americas. This includes the political control of higher education institutions, the use of force on campuses and in university facilities, administrative and criminal legislation aimed at silencing academics, ideological censorship of academic discourse and limitations on freedom of research and expression, and impunity with respect to sexual violence in university spaces throughout the hemisphere.
In our first regional conference, in November 2022 in Monterrey, Mexico, we focused the discussion on the Inter-American Principles and threats to/pressures on academic freedom in various countries within the Americas. For the second regional conference, we will focus on the promotion, protection and implementation of academic freedom and university autonomy in the Americas. This includes but it is not limited to coordinating/planning responses to attacks on higher education institutions, judicial actions to protect university spaces, as well as laws and policies implementing (or conversely, undermining) the Inter-American Principles and other human rights norms applicable to academic freedom and university autonomy.
The second regional conference of the Coalition will take place on 9-10 November 2023 at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná-PUCPR in Curitiba, Brazil. This conference will be hybrid, combining in person and virtual presentations.
The scientific committee for the conference and editorial committee for a special volume produced after the event includes prof. Isaac Nahon-Serfaty, prof. Joao Velloso and Salvador Herencia-Carrasco (HRREC of the University of Ottawa), prof. Rafael Ibarra Garza (University of Monterrey), Jesse Levine (Scholars at Risk) and prof. Danielle Anne Pamplona (PUCPR).
This call for papers seeks contributions that highlight challenges and opportunities in protection, advocacy, litigation and best practices in academic freedom and university autonomy. Possible topics for papers may be around the following themes:
- Adoption of academic freedom policies or regulations by higher education institutions and national or local government authorities.
- Implementation of the Inter-American Principles of Academic Freedom and University Autonomy.
- Academic freedom and the right to education in universities.
- University autonomy and authoritarianism in the Americas.
- Regional trends and challenges related to academic freedom or university autonomy.
- Conflicts between freedom of expression and academic freedom in the university space.
- Responding to sexual and/or gender-based violence and sexual harassment within the university space.
- Academic freedom and transitional justice.
- Participation of student activists or student unions or organizations in the promotion of academic freedom or university autonomy.
- Diversity and governance in higher education institutions.
- The impact of major information and technology corporations on academic freedom.
- Participation of marginalized groups in higher education institutions, including governance bodies.
- Universities and the right to social protest.
- Regional or country-focused studies on issues related to academic freedom or university autonomy.
There will be two types of contributions. Scientific papers aiming to be part of a scientific publication; and presentations aiming to be presented at the conference. Interested parties must submit a scientific or a conference paper proposal.
Scientific papers
Persons interested in submitting a scientific paper to present at the Conference will be eligible to submit their research for publication in a special edition of the Revista de Direito Econômico e Socioambiental, a double-blind, peer reviewed journal edited by PUCPR.
A first draft is expected by October 15. Drafts should be at least 10 pages in length, written in Times New Roman 12, 1.5 spacing, with footnotes. The final versions must be received by January 30, 2024 and, after a peer review process, will be published in the first semester of 2024.
Conference papers
Persons interested in participating in the conference without publication may also submit papers to present on panels. Selected papers will be posted on the Coalition's conference website after the event.
Submission of abstracts
Interested parties should send an abstract by 30 June 2023. Whether it’s a scientific paper or a conference paper, each abstract should be accompanied by a 100-word personal bio, including contact information and professional affiliation. Individuals whose abstracts are selected will be notified by 15 July 2023. The Coalition accepts proposals in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
Abstracts to be submitted to Rafael Ibarra Garza, professor at the University of Monterrey and member of the Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas, to the following email: [email protected].