10 Amendments of Jean-Luc SCHAFFHAUSER related to 2018/2117(INI)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas UNESCO defines academic freedom as ‘the right, without constriction by prescribed doctrine, to freedom of teaching and discussion, freedom in carrying out research and disseminating and publishing the results thereof, freedom to express freely their opinion about the institution or system in which they work, freedom from institutional censorship and freedom to participate in professional or representative academic bodies’; whereas the concept of 'libertas academica' is an extremely old principle dating back to the Middle Ages, i.e. to the very origins of European universities, and whereas this freedom of universities is still guaranteed, even today, in some countries under academic privilege statutes, which limit the right of law enforcement agencies to operate on the premises of a university (such as Article L712-2 of the French Education Code);
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas this definition must be grounded in core democratic values, including access and anti-discrimconcepts derived from political correctness should not impinge on this definaition principles, accountability, institutional autonomy and social responsibilityand whereas the concept of academic freedom should under no circumstances become a pretext for political activism;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas answers to issues in society should be found through reason, evidence and persuasion; whereas attacks on academic freedom undermine research, teaching, and public discourse, eroding academic quality and social, political, economic and cultural development; whereas for several generations the socialist and liberal ideology, both of which constitute materialism, have been exerting hegemony – often by means of unacceptable pressure – on almost all universities in Europe, to the detriment of freedom of thought;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the attempts to control or silence higher education institutions or their scholars, students and staff extend well beyond the individuals and institutions directly targeted and shrink the space for the inclusive democratic participation and empowerment of all citizensavailable for research and teaching;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas there is a general need both to raise awareness of the importance of academic freedom and to create opportunities to improve the capacity for its advocacy and defence especially for so- called conservative academics – who are neither liberal nor socialist – who often live in conditions of intimidation if not exclusion;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas it is important to identify attacks on academic freedom as part of global phenomena, and to encourage the recognition of academics and students being targeted not only as individuals whose rights are being violated, but also as human rights defenders who are being attackedwhile refusing to debase the vocation of academic by presenting it as pro-human rights activism, which would amount to politicising the profession;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas funding limitations restrict the actions of universities in the EU that already support students and scholars who fleeiversity budgets must be devoted above all to teaching the new generation from their countries as a result of the threat of persecution for their academic engagementconcerned, and whereas by definition only limited resources may be allocated to teaching students from elsewhere;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the EU is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law worldwide; whereas the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy calls for a more effective EU human rights and democracy support policy, including increasing the effectiveness of Human Rights Dialogues, improving the visibility anhuman rights are often exploited for political ends, including in academia, and whereas the EU should limpact of human rights country strategies, focusing on effective implementation of the EU Human Rights Guidelines and improving public diplomacy and communications on human rightsit its action in this field, which is wide open to abuse;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) explicitly recognise the importance of academic freedom in public statements, policies and actions, including recognition of the principles that ideas are not crimes and that critical discourse is not disloyalty; adds that this also applies to so-called politically incorrect opinions, which very often attract critical pressure, sometimes violent pressure, within European universities;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) revisit existing support mechanisms for human rights defenders, who must operate within a strict framework, in accordance with the legislation of their country, and without trying to replace it or exempt themselves from it, to develop the capacity to identify and assist in cases involving attacks on academic freedom, including through physical protection, legal and visa support, medical support, trial and prison monitoring, advocacy and lobbying, and long-term support during exile;