The purpose of this hearing was to present a regional analysis of attacks on academic freedom and university autonomy in the Americas that could contribute to the monitoring work of the Commission. Special emphasis was given to attacks on the administrative, financial, pedagogical and physical autonomy of universities, as well as the persecution of members of the academic and student community in the region.
Representatives from HRREC, Scholars At Risk, Aula Abierta, Iniciativa Puentes por los Estudiantes de Nicaragua (IPEN), Observatório Nacional da Violência contra Educadoras/es and Red Académicxs en Riesgo spoke about specific situations in countries where attacks on academic freedom and university autonomy are contributing to a series of violations of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Our organizations requested the IACHR to prioritize the implementation of the Inter-American Principles on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy and to draft a thematic report on the matter.