Programme on the Freedom and Safety of Scientists
Science thrives in an open and safe ecosystem that encourages the generation and free flow of ideas.
In pursuit of this objective, which is core to the 2017 Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (RS|SR), UNESCO launched a new programme dedicated to strengthening scientific freedom and the safety of scientists.
The programme will contribute to enhance trust in science and science uptake in decision making.
When scientific researchers are free to investigate, cooperate and feel safe, science flourishes unconstrained, across fields of competences, ultimately accelerating scientific progress. We risk too much if the conditions are not met to deliver science for decision making. This is why we are proud that Member States launched the programme on safety of scientists, that we will make count for the benefit of all.
Available data point to a worrying trend: trust in science gets continuously undermined, including through fake news, and the safety of scientific researchers is too often challenged, putting science under pressure.
Without ensuring the full protection of researchers’ freedom and safety, their contribution and indispensable roles in and for society are at risk.
Making science and scientists safe further requires enhanced international cooperation, as threats to the safety of scientific researchers transcend boundaries, languages and communities.
Key Figures
1 in 2 women scientists
say they have experienced sexual harassment at work, according to a study conducted by on behalf of the L'Oréal Foundation involving 5,200 scientists in 117 countries (2023)
2 in 5 scientists around the world working on climate topics
experienced online harassment or abuse related to their research, according to a survey by (2023)
Higher education communities:
attacks in 66 countries and territories were documented between July 2022 and June 2023, according to the Free to Think report by (2023)
1 in 5 researchers commenting on COVID-19
received violent threats after talking to the media on COVID-19, according to a survey with 321 respondents across 20 countries conducted by (2021)
UNESCO’s action
The UNESCO Programme is structured around five main pillars:
- Engagement with Member States at the ministerial and technical level, through a ministerial roundtable and a platform for regular dialogue with science policy advisors and scientific communities to identify which policies and practices are conducive to strengthen the protection of scientists.
- Enhance visibility leveraging the that unites common priorities, draws attention by the international community, and emphasizes the urgency of this issue, especially in emergency situations. This includes advocating for the inclusion of freedom and safety of scientists in both national and international agendas, securing funding, and shaping relevant programmes accordingly.
- Data collection, analysis and monitoring, leading to comprehensive periodic reports on the status of scientific researchers and the enabling environment that advances their free and independent thought.
- Enhancement of institutional capacities on the ground, by building on projects, such as the Strengthening STI systems for sustainable development in Africa initiative, and expanding UNESCO’s efforts to protect researchers in emergency situations and conflicts
- Shaping alliances for programme impact by connecting with a variety of key stakeholders, including Member States, IGOs and university umbrella organizations
Why is this important?
When scientific researchers can work in freedom and safety, able to collaborate across disciplines and frontiers, the pace of scientific development and its impact on human wellbeing are greater.
Conversely, when scientists are under pressure, threatened or limited in any way, societies’ ability to produce and share relevant and unbiased knowledge and information, to think critically, to find effective solutions to societal problems and even to distinguish fake from real is undermined.
In addition, it is important to remember that science does not grow or flourish overnight. Building and maintaining a solid and dynamic science ecosystem requires time, in the same way as it takes time to re-establish or revamp it, when its human, infrastructural or relational capital get damaged. Rebuilding science capital when it is devaluated, depreciated, or worse, destroyed is a long and demanding process.
Freedom and Safety of Scientific Researchers in the 2017 Recommendation
This programme is part of the efforts made to advance the implementation of the RS|SR and its . It connects particularly to Key Area 7 on scientific freedom and responsibility.
Call to Action on the Freedom and Safety of Scientists
An online dialogue with science policy advisors from 36 Member States co-organized by UNESCO and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in October 2023 confirmed the value of a statement emphasizing freedom and safety of scientists and outlining common priorities. The meeting identified several possible elements for such a statement.
A consultative process with the participants of the policy dialogue, as well as with other interested Member States, led to the elaboration of a Call to Action. In March 2024, UNESCO’s Executive Board welcomed the text and called upon all Member States to support it. Already 60 countries had done so by that date. An event on 19 March 2024 convened with Chile, Denmark, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, the Philippines, and South Africa was pivotal in garnering support.
The Call to Action can serve as reference to mobilize all concerned stakeholders and guide future initiatives – on policies, data collection, communication and information, monitoring, building institutional capacities, etc.
Partnership with The Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands played a pivotal role to raise awareness, gather evidence and mobilize support from Member States for the establishment of the new Programme. A first milestone was the call of the Executive Board (216 EX/45) to upscale the implementation of the RS|SR in May 2023. A series of dialogues with experts and Member States helped build the necessary momentum for the creation of the Programme by the General Conference in November 2023.
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Reach out to us to
- Connect and share your Member State’s needs and concerns
- Support projects to protect the freedom and safety of scientific researchers
- Engage in data collection and monitoring to improve decision-making, also to help design and implement relevant actions and initiatives.
Contact
For any questions or suggestions, please contact rssr@unesco.org.