Network for Education & Academic Rights (NEAR)

Through CARA’s work it became increasingly apparent that academics, teachers, students and unionists all over the world were being subjected to breaches of academic freedom. Instances of discrimination and harassment, ranging from the curtailment of research activities to detention and murder, are commonplace violations that demand wider attention and visibility. It was with this in mind that the Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR) was born.

Hosted by CARA, NEAR facilitates international collaboration between organisations active in issues of academic freedom and educational rights. Through its website and emails to its members, NEAR brings international attention to violations of academic freedom and educational rights and encourages a response in the form of urgent action appeals. It provides activists with timely email alerts, resources to mount campaigns, and a forum in which to share concerns and experiences.

In collaboration with Scholars at Risk (SAR), NEAR has also embarked on an exciting project aimed at training a cohort of regional scholar-advocates to serve as ‘international academic freedom defenders.’ The collaborative project aims to conduct a series of workshops in strategic countries using a comprehensive training curriculum (including legal and skills based modules). NEAR and SAR are also responsible for coordinating post-workshop activities, designed to reinforce training goals and to mobilise workshop participants to undertake advocacy and research to defend human rights, promote academic freedom and strengthen higher education communities.

Please visit the Network for Education & Academic Rights (NEAR) website for more information.