Scholars at Risk uOttawa

About the Program

The University of Ottawa joined the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Network in 2014.

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of higher education institutions dedicated to protecting threatened scholars, preventing attacks on higher education communities and promoting academic freedom worldwide. The network protects scholars suffering grave threats to their lives, liberty and well-being by arranging positions of sanctuary at institutions in the network.

Scholars at Risk began in the Human Rights Program of the University of Chicago in 1999 and the University of Ottawa joined in 2014. The University partnered with Carleton University between 2014 and 2017 and co-hosted two scholars during this period. HRREC manages the SAR uOttawa Program and Assistant Director, Viviana Fernandez, is a member of the SAR Canada Section’ Steering Committee and represents Canada in the SAR International Advisory Committee.

Learn more about the Scholars a Risk (SAR) uOttawa Program.
In June 2015, SAR released the first report of their Academic Freedom Monitoring Project documenting attacks on higher education communities. uOttawa is engaged in this effort through the Human Rights Clinic since 2018 and contributes to the Free to Think Report through the monitoring of six countries in the Americas.
In April 2018, Caroline Faucher, HRREC's Communications and Events Management Officer, and Assistant Director Viviana Fernandez represented uOttawa at the SAR 2018 Global Congress in Berlin (read the Summary Report of the Conference).
Viviana Fernandez was interviewed by Globalisation Café on the topic of Academic freedom, what is it, why is it important, and where is it most at risk? Listen to the podcast here.
Spotlight on “Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters”. Read about the free massive open online course (MOOC) "Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters".
To learn more about the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Program, you can watch this video.
To contact the SAR Program at uOttawa, please write to scholarsatrisk@uottawa.ca.

Give to the SAR uOttawa Program

Contributions to the SAR uOttawa Program at the University of Ottawa can be made by going to Giving to uOttawa.

SAR uOttawa Events

April 5, 2019 - Combining Scholarship and Activism: Challenges and Opportunity | 9 a.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
March 5, 2019 - The Assault on Public Opinion: 20 Years of Besieged Freedom of Speech in Venezuela | 1 p.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
February 26, 2019 - SCIENCE, a Human Right | 4 p.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
November 21, 2018 - Academic Freedom under Attack: The Cases of Venezuela, Turkey & Nicaragua | 5 p.m. | Vanier Hall - VNR1050 (136 Jean-Jacques-Lussier Private) | University of Ottawa
September 27, 2018 - Book Launch - Poverty Alleviation and Poverty of Aid: Pakistan | 5:30 p.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
May 10, 2018 - Academic Freedom in Venezuela: Crisis Affecting Scholars and Students | University of Ottawa | By invitation only.
April 23 to 26, 2018 - Scholars at Risk Network 2018 Global Congress | Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
April 5, 2018 - Minority Languages in Iran from the Perspective of Language Rights: The Kurdish Case | 1 p.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
March 9, 2018 - Meet Rahim Surkhi, Scholar at Risk Hosted at uOttawa | 11:30 a.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
December 11, 2017 - Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Parliament Hill
This annual event is organized by the Steering Committee of our Canadian Section with the support of Gary Anandasangaree (Liberal MP for Scarborough-Rouge Park), Peter Kent (Conservative MP for Thornhill) and Murray Rankin (NDP MP for Victoria). On this day, we recognize the work that SAR does in protecting scholars and advocating for academic freedom. The event included a luncheon in the Parliamentary restaurant with remarks from Dr. Surkhi, a SAR Scholar hosted by the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
November 2, 2017 - Protecting Academic Freedom at Home and Abroad | 5:30 p.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX302 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
November 2, 2017 - Panel on "Science at Risk" on the importance of science and its contributions to inform public policy and what can Canada do to counter some of the most dangerous trends within the Canadian Science Policy Conference 2017.
December 8, 2016 - Academic Freedom in a Volatile World | 3:30 p.m. | Fauteux Hall - FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
December 8, 2016 - Scholars at Risk Network (SAR) Recognized at the Canadian Parliament | 10:30 a.m. | Canadian Parliament (RCR Building - 1 Wellington Street, Room C-180)
November 9, 2016 - Keynote Session on Science, Human Rights and Academic Freedom with speakers: Irwin Cotler, Homa Hoodfar, Ian Semeniuk and Viviana Fernandez | 8th Canadian Science Policy Conference
June 8-10, 2016 - Scholars at Risk Network 2016 Global Congress | View the presentations on YouTube | McGill University
June 2016 - In June 2015, SAR released the first Free to Think, a report of their Academic Freedom Monitoring Project which documented attacks on higher education communities in 65 countries from January 2011 to May 2015.The network has since released Free to Think 2016.
April 12, 2016 - Capital Punishment in China and Iran: Current Practices and Prospects for Reform | 3 to 4:30 p.m. | Cornell Law School
March 30, 2016 - Meet Our Scholar at Risk - Hossein Raeesi | 4 to 5 p.m. | Fauteux Hall, FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
February 25, 2016 - Readings from Banned and Challenged Materials as part of the Freedom to Read Week 2016 | 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. | Carleton University
February 11, 2016 - The Refugee Crisis and Mental Health | 12 to 1:30 p.m. | Fauteux Hall, FTX147 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
February 2, 2016 - Meet our Scholar | 1 to 2 p.m. | Fauteux Hall, FTX570 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
November 30, 2015 - Challenges of Human Rights Defenders | 6 to 8:30 p.m. | 2017 Dunton Tower (1125 Colonel By Drive) | Carleton University
November 19, 2015 - Law, Nation and Sexuality: A Critical Dialogue - Event organized by the University of Ottawa LGBTQA Law Students Association | 5:30 p.m. | Fauteux Hall, FTX359 (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
October 21, 2015 - Death Penalty: Current Reflexions | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Fauteux Hall, FTX147A (57 Louis-Pasteur Private) | University of Ottawa
September 16, 2015 - Presentation to the Risk and Insurance Management Society in Ottawa
March 4, 2015 - Je suis Scholar