The Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas (CAFA) fosters the promotion, protection, and respect for academic freedom, with the goal of developing relevant human rights standards that serve to protect higher education spaces, to identify best practices, and to strengthen democratic principles in the Americas. CAFA is chaired by the University of Monterrey, the Human Rights Research and Education Center (HRREC) at the University of Ottawa and the Scholars at Risk Network.
The 5th CAFA Conference will focus on the theme Pathways to Implementing the Right to Academic Freedom Across the Americas.
In this context, CAFA invites academics, researchers, and human rights advocates to contribute analyses on the challenges and opportunities for protecting and advancing academic freedom and university autonomy throughout the region.
This call seeks papers that approach, from a human rights perspective, issues such as political interference and authoritarianism in higher education, disinformation and science denialism, violence in university settings, the impact of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as student activism and the participation of historically marginalized groups.
Interested authors are invited to send an abstract (350 words max.) and a 100-word personal biography by March 2, 2026 to annualconference@cafa-claa.org. Individuals whose abstracts are selected will be notified by March 16, 2026. The Coalition accepts proposals in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
- Download the Call for papers for all the details (PDF in English)