Committee on Human Rights

Summary: The Committee on Human Rights of the NAS, NAE, and IOM, created in 1976, is composed of 12 members of the three institutions and has the support of 1,700 additional members, who write appeals for beleaguered colleagues. The committee uses the influence and prestige of the institutions it represents to gain the release of scientific colleagues worldwide who are imprisoned for peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights. It also intervenes in cases of colleagues who receive death threats and works to promote just prosecution in cases of individuals who have been killed for political reasons. Its work is grounded in the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The committee also is a catalyst for science-related human rights issues of concern to members of the academies. The committee is secretariat for the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies, which addresses grave science and human rights issues and cases. The Network seeks to promote free exchange of ideas and opinions among scientists and scholars in all countries to stimulate development of collaborative educational, research, and human-rights endeavors within the institutions with which they are affiliated. Currently, academies and scholarly societies in 70 countries are affiliated with the Network.