Title: AAAS Human Rights Action Network

Source/Sponsoring Agency: American Association for the Advancement of Science; AAAS Science and Human Rights Program

URL: http://shr.aaas.org/aaashran.htm

Date Checked: 7/28/2008      Status: Active

Date Annotated: 8/5/2002

Topics: Human Rights Law; Science and Technology

Other keywords: United Nations

Contents: The AAAS Human Rights Action Network (AAASHRAN) was established in 1993 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science as a means of informing AAAS members and other subscribers of human rights cases and developments involving scientists. Predicated on the effectiveness of organized letter-writing campaigns as a means of protest, AAASHRAN aims to "coordinate scientists' efforts to appeal to governments on behalf of their colleagues whose human rights are being violated." Its main areas of activity are violations of scientific freedom and the professional rights of scientists; violations of scientists' human rights not directly related to the conduct of science; and participation by scientists in practices which infringe the human rights of others. AAASHRAN Alerts are archived on the website going back to 1996, and are browseable by date, name, case number, and country. Each case study contains detailed "Facts of the Case," points to "Relevant Human Rights Standards," and provides "Recommended Action" and necessary contact information. The archived letters of appeal go back to 1998, and are arranged by date.

Author of Annotation: B. Kreisler; J. Pajerek