• April 06, 2014

DRAFT FINAL DECLARATION 

We, the undersigned, women and men of science, politicians, citizens met in Rome (Chamber of Deputies and Capitol hill) for the Third meeting of the World Congress for Freedom of Research. We welcome the continuation of the World Congress initiative, started with the Constituent Assembly meeting in October 2004 and continued through the first meeting in february 2006 and the Second meeting in march 2009. We identify the following specific objectives to be pursued at all levels, transnational, national and local:

• monitoring the state of freedom of research and care in the world, through the annual report,”the freedom of research and self-determination index” and a constant update of the comparison of laws and national policies:
• strengthening or creation of policies, rules and jurisdictions, including international and constitutional law to defend the freedom of research, which corresponds to a duty of States to promote free research and to disseminate the benefits such research in an equitable manner for all citizens (Article 15, par. 1(b) and 3 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), including through cooperation with less developed area of the world;
• to continue the transnational judicial initiative for the defense of the right to self-determination and freedom of research, after the key successes achieved at the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights; it is necessary also to guarantee the full and immediate execution of judgements from these supranational Courts.
• to promote legislative and non-legislative systems that can assist policy makers to preventively assess – with help from scientific knowledge – the impact of their decisions and the related risks;
• to defend the scientific community (e.g. Academies of Sciences), too often threatened in their activity and autonomy from political and ideological intrusions, as in the case of the Academy of Sciences of Russia.
• freedom of research on embryonic stem cell and embryos;
• the creation of an international network to help disseminating accurate information about access to treatment in the world and protect patients from any violation of the right to a safe and efficacious treatment;
• the promotion of the scientific teaching method, both for its practical value, and for its decisive role in the defence of the democratic method and tolerance;
• the affirmation of the right to self-determination on treatments, according to the principle that no one shall be subjected to treatment against his will, and everyone can decide when and how to begin, continue or discontinue therapy, even in the case that the suspension would lead to death;
• the implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities, in particular in less developed countries.
• to end the the pervasive limitations on scientific and medical research imposed by drugs prohibition.
• to require and promote accurate information for the public and policy makers about the most controversial scientific topics, such as animal testing and genetically modified organisms, through a clear-cut separation between hard evidences and moral preferences.

To organize specific campaigns on the above objectives, we confirm the Association Luca Coscioni’s role as Organizational Secretariat; Are committed to creating networks and working groups bringing together Italian and international associations, scientists and Nobel laureates, patients, non-governmental, political and institutional representatives, in collaboration with the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (non-governmental organization with consultative status at the United Nations).

Audio-video of the Meeting: First day Second day Third day