SAVE THE DATE: June 7-10, 2016 - Scholars at Risk Network Global Congress
Scholars at Risk Network Global Congress
June 7-10, 2016, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Hosted by the Centre for Human Rights & Legal Pluralism
Scholars at Risk and the McGill University Centre for Human Rights & Legal Pluralism announce the scheduling of the 2016 Scholars at Risk Network Global Congress for June 7-10, 2016 in Montreal.
The 2016 event will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Scholars at Risk Network and the collective efforts of network members and partners protecting scholars and promoting academic freedom worldwide. Over the years, the network has grown from fewer than two dozen institutions to over 360 in 37 countries. SAR activities, services for scholars and member institutions, and visibility have similarly grown, with over 2000 scholars facing threats assisted including over 600 positions of temporary sanctuary arranged with network member institutions and partners. Scholars at Risk’s research, advocacy, publications and events bring greater attention to the problem of attacks on higher education communities and their members, and provide a wide range of opportunities for institutions, researchers, staff and students to get involved.
The Global Congress is the place where it all comes together: where network members connect with partners from around the world, share experiences of hosting at-risk scholars, learn about new activities for faculty and students, and discuss strategies for meeting the challenges of protecting academic freedom—and especially of working in or with institutions, researchers and students from places where academic freedom and autonomy are often severely limited. Earlier congresses were held in Chicago (2000 & 2003), New York (2005 & 2011), San Francisco (2007), Vilnius (2009), and Amsterdam (2014). A report of the 2014 Global Congress in Amsterdam, co-hosted by Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) is at http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Documents/SAR_2014_GC_Report.pdf.
The Centre for Human Rights & Legal Pluralism is a leader in interdisciplinary collaboration on the complex social, ethical, political and philosophical dimensions of human rights, and as such an ideal host for the Global Congress discussions on increasing protection for higher education and related values like academic freedom, free inquiry and free expression. Through the Centre, McGill University also participates in SAR as a member of the SAR Canada Section, which coordinates SAR-related activities in Canada and includes Brock University, Carleton University, Centennial College, Concordia University, McGill University, University of Ottawa, University of Guelph, University of Toronto, University of Winnipeg, Western University, and York University. The 2016 Congress will provide global SAR network members—and prospective new members and partners—a special opportunity to engage with Canadian and other North American SAR members, as well as to enjoy all the cultural, historical and natural features that Montreal offers.
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on June 7-10, 2016!