CAUT | ACPPU
Canadian Association of University Teachers
Issues & Campaigns
International Human Rights & Solidarity
Human rights and academic freedom are essential to the development of open, stable and democratic societies. Yet, throughout the world today the academic freedom and basic human rights of our colleagues are routinely violated through censorship, abuse, imprisonment, and torture.
Where we standCAUT is committed to defending the academic freedom and human rights of academic staff in all nations. We protest and intervene when human rights and civil liberties are violated and we work with organizations such as Education International, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Network for Education and Academic Rights to defend and support our colleagues throughout the world.
International Statements and Resolutions
- (Feb 2013) Labour and civil society groups issue warning on Canada-EU trade deal
- (May 2012) CAUT Statement on International Day against Homophobia & Transphobia
- (Nov 2010) CAUT opposes the use of secret “intelligence” from unidentified sources in the extradition case of Dr. Hassan Diab
- (Jan 2010) Call for solidarity with Haiti: Canadian academics among the victims
- (Jan 2010) Urgent Action Appeal for Haiti: Education International is calling on its affiliates to assist members and their families in earthquake-stricken Haiti
- (Jan 2010) Basic Academic Freedoms and Rights Violated in Israel and Palestinian Territories
- (Dec 2009) CAUT Resolution on Canada's Fundamental Human Rights Obligations (Transfer of Afghan Detainees)
- (Aug 2009) Honduras - Statement on the violence against students and teachers
- (Jan 2009) CAUT Statement on the Gaza Conflict
- (Sept 2003) United States - Statement of Support to Yale Unions
- (May 2003) CAUT Resolution on Iraq
- (Jan 2003) CAUT Statement on Closure of Palestinian Universities
- (Nov 2002) CAUT Statement on Military Intervention in Iraq
- (Dec. 3, 2012) Turkey - A CAUT letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing concerns over reports of serious violations of trade union and human rights in Turkey.
- (Oct. 31, 2012) Ottawa - CAUT is calling on members to join an on-line campaign to free jailed leaders of the Bahrain Teacher Association (BTA).
- (Oct. 10, 2012) Israel - Letter to Israeli Minister of Education regarding Ben-Gurion University, urging the Minister to stand up for academic freedom and reject closing the Department of Politics & Government.
- (Oct. 10, 2012) Costa Rica - Letter to Canadian mining company Infinito Gold regarding threats to academic freedom at University of Costa Rica.
- (July 31, 2012) Sudan - Letter to President al-Bashir regarding the arrest of student activist Mohammed Salah Mohammed.
- (July 26, 2012) Turkey - Letter to President Abdullah Gül regarding the arrest of prominent professor Kemal Gürüz.
- (Apr. 17, 2012) China - In a letter to President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China, CAUT calls on the government to reverse the travel ban for Chinese Scholar Mr. Gu Chuan and permit him to leave China to begin a one-year position as Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in the United States.
- (Mar. 29, 2012) Ottawa - In the lead up to the government's austerity budget, Spanish workers are protesting against public service cuts, changes to labour laws and growing unemployment rates; CAUT expresses support for them and their general strike.
- (Mar. 7, 2012) Ottawa - Education associations and unions from around the world are calling on the government of Iran to revoke the death sentence of Abdolreza Ghanbari, a 44-year-old lecturer at Payam e Nour University.
- (Nov. 2, 2011) Ottawa - A CAUT letter to the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, regarding the case of Canadian citizen Naser al Raas.
- (Sept. 16, 2011) Chad - In a letter to His Excellency Idriss Deby Itno, President, and Dr. Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, Minister of Justice, CAUT respectfully urge the immediate and unconditional release of Bebkika Passoua Alexis and Nedoumbayel Nekaou, both students who are facing extended prison sentences for circulating pamphlets calling for a peaceful demonstration.
- (June 23, 2011) Bahrain - In a letter to His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CAUT protests the treatment of Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Singace, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Bahrain, who has been sentenced to life in prison for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
- (June 3, 2011) Bahrain - In a letter to the King of Bahrain and the Minister of Education, CAUT urges officials to end the persecution of pro-democracy supports and to fully respect their academic freedom and civil liberties.
- (Apr. 14, 2011) Columbia - A CAUT letter to President Juan Manuel Santos with respect to Colombian academic Dr. Miguel Angel Beltran who has now been detained for more than 22 months in La Picota Prison, Bogota, without being convicted of any crime.
- (Mar. 3, 2011) Canada - A CAUT letter to Ms. Florence Zano Chideya, Ambassador of the Republic of Zimbabwe, to express concerns with reports that their government has detained and beaten students, academics and trade unionists who had met to discuss current events in North Africa.
- (Mar. 2, 2011) U.S. - A CAUT letter of support to the American Association of University Professors re - attacks on labour rights in Wisconsin.
- (Feb. 28, 2011) U.S. - A CAUT letter of support to the American Federaton of Teachers re - attacks on labour rights in Wisconson.
- (Feb. 28, 2011) U.S. - A CAUT letter of support to the Wisconson Education Association Council re - attacks on labour rights.
- (Jan. 25, 2011) Turkey - A letter to Mr. Sadullah Ergin, Minister of Justice, with respect to Prof. Pinar Selek who will be tried in Istanbul on charges for which she has already been twice acquitted.
- (Oct. 19, 2010) Belgium - A letter to his Excellency Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium, to urge the launch of an investigation into reports that a Netherlands-based American professor, Dr. Marianne Maeckelbergh, was mistreated by Belgian police.
- (Oct. 19, 2010) Belgium - A letter to the Hon. Annemie Turtelboom, Minister of the Interior, to urge the launch of an investigation into reports that a Netherlands-based American professor, Dr. Marianne Maeckelbergh, was arbitrarily arrested and mistreated by Belgian police.
- (Oct. 12, 2010) Canada - Letter to the Hon. Lisa Raitt to ensure that the ongoing violation of fundamental labour rights in South Korea are put on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the OECD’s ELSA Committee.
- (Oct. 6, 2010) Israel - Letter to Professor Moshe Kaveh to express our grave concern about the decision of the Bar-Ilan University to deny tenure to Dr.Ariella Azoulay.
- (Oct. 5, 2010) Iran - Letter to his Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to protest the pressure his government is applying to universities and their professors to politically support the Iranian government.
- (August 10, 2010) Korea - Letter to Mr. Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea, to object to the Korean Ministry of Education's plan to dismiss 183 teachers.
- (May 12, 2010) Iran - Letter to his Excellency Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to condemn the execution of the Kurdish teacher and trade unionist Farzad Kamangar on May 9, 2010.
Top of page