Academic Freedom and the Social Responsibilities of Academics in Tanzania

The Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility

The Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility November 1990 Preamble Intellectual freedom in Africa is currently threatened; to an unprecedented degree. The historically produced and persistent economic, political and social crisis of our continent continues to undermine development in all spheres. The imposition of unpopular structural adjustment programmes has been accompanied by increased political repression, widespread poverty and intense human suffering. African people are responding to these intolerable conditions by intensifying their struggles for democracy and human rights. The struggle for intellectual freedom is an integral part of the struggle of our people for human rights. Just as popular forces are waging a struggle for democracy and human rights, so are African academics, intellectuals, students and other members of the intelligentsia deeply involved in their own struggles for intellectual and academic freedom. Aware that the African states are parties to international and regional human rights instruments, including the African Charter for Human and People’s rights, and convinced that we, the African intellectual community, have an obligation both to fight for our rights as well as to raise the rights consciousness of our people, we mat in Kampala to reaffirm our commitment to the Charter, set normal standards to guide the exercise of intellectual freedom and remind ourselves of our social responsibility as intellectuals. We have thus adopted the Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility on this 29th day of November, 1990. May the Declaration be a standard-bearer for the African intellectual community to assert its autonomy and undertake its responsibility to the people of our continent. 8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1 8 1 The Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility Chapter I: Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Section A: Intellectual Rights and Freedoms Article 1 Every person has the right to education and participation in intellectual activity. Article 2 Every African intellectual shall be entitled to the respect of all his or her civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights as stipulated in the International Bill of Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. Article 3 No African intellectual shall in any way be persecuted, harassed or intimidated for reasons only of his intellectual work or opinions. Article 4 Every African intellectual shall enjoy the freedom of movement within his or her country and freedom to travel outside and re-enter the country without let, hindrance or harassment. No administrative or any other action shall directly or indirectly restrict this freedom on account of a person’s intellectual opinions, beliefs or activity. Article 5 Every African intellectual and intellectual community has the right to initiate and develop contacts or establish relations with other intellectuals and intellectual communities provided that they are based on equality and mutual respect. Article 6 Every African intellectual has the right to pursue intellectual activity, including teaching, research and dissemination of research results, without let or hindrance subject only to universally recognized principles of scientific enquiry and ethical and professional standards. Article 7 Teaching and researching members of staff and students of institutions of education have the right, directly and through their elected representatives, to initiate participate in and determine academic programmes of their institutions in accordance with the highest standards of education. Article 8 Teaching and researching members of the intellectual community shall have security of tenure. He or she shall not be dismissed or removed from employment except for reasons of gross misconduct, proven incompetence or negligence incompatible with the academic profession. Disciplinary proceedings for dismissal or removal on grounds stated in this article shall be in 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 8 2 Academic Freedom and the Social Responsibilites of Academics in Tanzania accordance with laid down procedures providing for a fair hearing before a democratically elected body of the intellectual community. Article 9 The intellectual community shall have the rights to express its opinions freely in the media and establish its own media and means of communication. Section B: Rights to Autonomous Organizations Article 10 All members of the intellectual community shall have the freedom of association , including the right to form and join trade unions. The right of association includes the right of peaceful assembly and formation of groups, clubs and national and international associations. Section C: Autonomy of Institutions Article 11 Institutions of higher education shall be autonomous and independent of the State or any other public authority in conducting their...