The systemwide campaign for the creation of the Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights (CAFHR) gains further ground with several constituent units establishing academic freedom committees.
On February 26, UP Diliman approved the creation of the UP Diliman Committee on the Protection of Freedoms and Rights based on a recommendation from the UP Diliman University Council (UC) last year. It held its first meeting on March 1.
UP Diliman is the third constituent university to create an Academic Freedom committee after UP Cebu and UP Manila.
"Considering the University's traditions of activism and role as socio-political critic, and given the threats to and violations of the freedoms and rights of the members of our community, a Committee on the Protection of Freedoms and Rights is hereby created to review and recommend policies, programs, and other measures for the protection and promotion of basic freedoms and rights of UP Diliman constituents," according to the UP Diliman Administrative Order No. ECLV-24-039.
UP Mindanao UC also expressed support for the creation of the CAFHR in a statement released in February 23, "given the rampant cases of state fascism such as red tagging and violation of human rights and academic freedom."
In its March 4 meeting, the UP Los Baños administration informed the UC that its in the process of reconciling the 2021 Safe Haven Resolution, which ensured members of UPLB community be provided safe haven from attacks, and the formation of a Multisectoral Advisory Board to transform it ito an Academic Freedom Committee following the UC resolution in November 2023 supporting the creation of CAFHR.
UP Visayas's UC also affirmed its earlier statement in October 2023 and is in the process of constituting an Academic Freedom Panel.
UP Manila, for its part, released an administrative order constituting the Committee on the Promotion and Protection Academic Freedom and Human Rights (CAFHR) on December 10, 2023, which happened to be International Human Rights Day.
UP Manila's CAFHR had already convened thrice in 2024, and is currently finalizing its implementing rules and mechanisms for monitoring and quick response.
"The Committee both at the levels of the UP System and its constituent universities will serve as a mechanism for monitoring and coordination, and provision of legal and administrative aid to faculty, staff, and students in distress," Faculty Regent Carl Marc L. Ramota explained.
UC call for an Academic Freedom Committee
In an unprecedented move last year, UCs across the UP System also adopted resolutions and issued statements of support for the establishment of committee in defense of academic freedom both at the System and CU levels. UC is the highest academic policymaking body in each autonomous unit of the University.
In September, UP Diliman's UC called on the university administration to address threats to academic freedom, saying faculty, staff, and students "should not be persecuted, intimidated, and silenced for their political and academic work, research, and public service."
In the same month, a statement from UP Cebu's UC highlighted the "role of academics as public intellectuals to publicly express and stand with the principles and products of their academic functions."
In its 86th meeting, UP Baguio's UC supported the creation of the Committee, citing the "disturbing surge in threats directed towards progressive individuals, including academic union leaders and dedicated faculty and student activists who champion socio-political, economic, environmental, and cultural causes" in Northern Luzon.
UP Visayas' UC in October also noted "attempts by state forces to silence dissent," with its faculty admonishing the university administration to provide "institutional protection for its own constituents."
The University Councils in UP Los Baños and UP Mindanao also voted for the CAFHR's creation in November.
"At the heart of the university is the exercise of academic freedom, and the affirmation of its role as catalyst of change. Academic freedom is at the locus of democratic governance and public service," Faculty Regent Ramota said.
He added that as national university, UP must protect academic freedom amid disinformation, historical distortion, and disregard of people's rights.
The proposal for the establishment of CAFHR was adopted in the systemwide Tipunan assembly organized by the Office of the Faculty Regent in February. It became a multisectoral initiative with the Faculty, Staff, and Student Regents, university unions, and student groups starting a series of dialogues with the university administration as early as April.
This article was shared from the UP KALIPUNAN, the official publication of the Office of Faculty Regent of the University of the Philippines. Click on the following link to read the publication online: https://issuu.com/osrup/docs/up_kalipunan_01-01-final_8f8b9c864f892e
You may also download the PDF file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LAcnnEgaWHMufyJ_QHzYj0ZWQJjLA7o-/view
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