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Scholars at Risk Network

SAR

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of over 650 higher education institutions and thousands of individuals in over 40 countries dedicated to protecting and offering sanctuary to threatened scholars.

Lobbying Activity

Response to European Research Area (ERA) Act

10 Sept 2025

Scholars at Risk Europe (SAR Europe) welcomes the European Commissions proposal to establish a framework for the ERA through the ERA Act. We especially commend the explicit recognition of the freedom of scientific research as a fundamental value of the ERA. At the same time, we urge the Commission to ensure that the ERA Act clearly recognises the inseparability of research and teaching and commits to protecting the fullest scope of academic freedom within the parameters of the Unions competence. The ERA Act presents an opportunity to adopt a reasonable set of proposals that (1) guarantee legal protection; (2) establish a practical, effective monitoring and accountability framework; and (3) strengthen cultures of respect for rights and values essential to higher education and research, and to democratic society.
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Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

4 Sept 2025

SAR Europe welcomes the proposal for an EU Civil Society Strategy as a crucial step towards enhancing democratic participation, protecting fundamental rights, and empowering civil society actors to continue their indispensable work. For the Union to genuinely create an enabling environment for civil society across the Member States, it must explicitly recognise the role of the higher education community in this space and work to significantly enhance their inclusion within this Strategy.
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Response to European Democracy Shield

26 May 2025

Scholars at Risk Europe is dedicated to protecting the human rights of scholars and intellectuals around the world, and to raising awareness, understanding of, and respect for academic freedom. We welcome the European Commissions initiative to create a European Democracy Shield at a time when democracy is experiencing increasing pressures. Supporting academic freedom and the autonomy of higher education institutions will support the key issues intended to be addressed by the Shield. Therefore, their explicit inclusion within the Shield is crucial to its success. Academic freedom is a guarantor of quality. It is essential for any meaningful research, teaching and discourse, and, as such, is a central tenet of a flourishing democracy. It facilitates open, constructive, and diverse dialogue thereby allowing societies to grow in thought and function. Its protection, promotion, and enjoyment require the autonomy of higher education institutions. A shrinking space for academic freedom and institutional autonomy are key indicators of a deteriorating environment for democracy and human rights in general.
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Meeting with Claire Morel (Head of Unit Education, Youth, Sport and Culture)

30 Apr 2025 · Presentation of the annual Free to Think report by Scholars at Risk’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project

Meeting with Christian Ehler (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Jul 2024 · Academic freedom