As co-organizer and key stakeholder of the Geneva Human Rights Dialogues, the Swiss Commission for UNESCO (SCU) is pleased to present the summary report and video of the second Dialogue, which was dedicated to the Right to Science.

This thematic dialogue was held on 25 and 26 April 2022 and brought together UN officials, UN Special Rapporteurs, NGOs and academics. It is part of a dialogue series that the SCU launched in 2021 in collaboration with the OHCHR, UNESCO, the University of Geneva and the REGARD network to strengthen approaches and foster partnerships for the respect and implementation of human rights related to education, science, culture, communication and information.

The Right to Science, access to scientific knowledge and its benefits, scientific freedom and the safety of scientific researchers are increasingly receiving more and more attention. The open-ended discussions, based in part on a background paper developed specifically for the workshop, were incredibly rich and constructive and underlined the value of a cross-sectoral thrust at UNESCO.

The Dialogue was structured around three segments: current trends and challenges for the Right to Science, existing human rights mechanisms, and lessons learned from partnership approaches. The synthesis report includes 16 key messages and key actions that were identified during the discussions.

To access the summary report, please click here, and watch the video here.