About Us

The International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies (IHRN), created in 1993, works to address grave issues of science and human rights, particularly cases of scientists, scholars, engineers, and health professionals around the world who are subjected to severe repression solely for having nonviolently exercised their rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It seeks to promote the free exchange of ideas and opinions among scientists and scholars in all countries and, thereby, to stimulate the development of collaborative educational, research, and human rights endeavors within academies and the institutions with which they are affiliated. The IHRN stands in solidarity with sister national academies and scholarly societies worldwide to support their independence and autonomy and promotes institutional human rights consciousness-raising and commitment to supporting such efforts. Currently, science academies and scholarly societies in approximately 90 countries are affiliated with the IHRN; each is represented by an internationally prominent member who is also a human rights advocate.

       Founding IHRN Executive Committee Members Pieter van Dijk,
Francois Jacob, Edoardo Vesentini, Torsten Wiesel, and Max Perutz.

​​The IHRN is governed by an executive committee composed of members from 12 academies around the world.  The Committee on Human Rights of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in Washington, D.C. serves as the IHRN's secretariat.

“Many members ... affiliated with the International Human Rights Network, got to know about my case, became concerned, and actively intervened in order to obtain—in a civilized way—improvements in my confinement. For all of those humanitarian actions, I send, from the depths of my heart, my warmest thanks to all of the people who … did everything possible (and impossible) so that my release could become a reality.” (Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez, March 29, 2011)