-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Date: 21 October 2002 Victim: Debora Diniz Country: Brazil Subject: Bioethicist Fired in Brazil Case Number: br0218_din Type of alert: New NIssues: Academic and scientific freedom; Freedom of opinion and expression FACTS OF THE CASE: On 7 September 2002, Debora Diniz, an anthropologist and bioethicist, was fired from her position as a professor at the Catholic University in Brasilia. The dismissal appears to be in retaliation for her participation in a public debate about abortion in March 2001. Dr. Diniz is a respected scholar and winner of the Manuel Velasco-Suarez International Bioethics Award given by the World Health Organization. In addition to her teaching position, she is the director of the Feminist Approaches to Bioethics Network, a NGO in Brazil. A government ministry invited Dr. Diniz to take part in the debate because of her in-depth research on the issue. She was asked to present her findings and discuss the ethical and sociological issues of abortion in Brazil. However, the other participants grew quite hostile and little substantive discussion took place during the debate. Immediately after the debate, public attorneys pressured the university chancellor to fire Dr. Diniz. However, Dr. Diniz had participated in the debate in her capacity as director of the NGO and attended the debate during a school holiday. The university did not take any formal action against her at that time. At the end of the semester, in July 2001, the Catholic University announced that they were firing Dr. Diniz. An official from the Public Defenders Office spoke with university officials and the dismissal was rescinded. Nevertheless, her status at the university changed and she was no longer allowed to teach bioethics. She eventually found a position teaching methodology in the Psychology Department even though that is not her field. Dr. Diniz's relationship with university administrators became tense again in May 2002 when a book she co-authored about abortion laws in Brazil was published. She believes that university officials may have forgotten about her, but the publication of the book served to remind officials of Dr. Diniz and they again took action to fire her. Several international bioethicists have criticized the dismissal and expressed their concerns for academic freedom in Brazil. A recent email message from one of the supporters stated, "The point of scholarship is to produce knowledge, whether of the world or of ourselves, to ask questions that stimulate further inquiry, and to teach others what they know. Scholars can be neither productive, nor curious, nor good educators if they must continually be careful not to offend those in power." Firing an individual for legitimate scholarship is in violation of the academic freedom provisions in Brazil's 1988 constitution; it also violates academic freedom and freedom of expression provisions in international human rights treaties, including the following. (Sources of information for this case include: email correspondence with Dr. Debora Diniz and several US-based bioethicists and anthropologists who sent email messages on behalf of Dr. Diniz.) RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHT STANDARDS: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights * Article 19(1): Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference. * Article 19(2): Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his [or her] choice. Universal Declaration of Human Rights * Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes, letters, or emails: Expressing concern that Dr. Debora Diniz appears to have been fired in retaliation for exercising her internationally protected human right of freedom of expression; Requesting that Dr. Debora Diniz be immediately and unconditionally reinstated to her position at the Catholic University; and Expressing serious concern for the future of academic freedom on Brazil. APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO: Mr. Paulo Renato Souza Minister of Education Ministry of Education Esplanada dos Ministerios Bloco L-Ed. Sede-Anexos I e II Brasilia DF Brazil Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister Mr. Paolo de Tarso Ramos Ribeiro Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice Esplanada dos Ministerios Bloco T., Ed. Sede Brasilia, DF Brazil Email: snj@mj.gov.br Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister COPIES SENT TO: Ambassador Rubens Antonio Barbosa Ambassador of Brazil to the United States Brazilian Embassy in Washington 3006 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008-3634 Fax: (202) 238-2827 Salutation: Dear Ambassador Barbosa: Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950. The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful. To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued. PLEASE NOTE: You may view the digitally signed version of the AAASHRAN alert on the World Wide Web at: http://shr.aaas.org/aaashran/alert.php?a_id=236 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 6.5.8 iQA/AwUBPbQJs9MlGPom+t70EQLr8QCbBa9tx3wdcRdwF9zef/BE9IefoxYAoN0A 545j0ZUz/a4gkNyN4GH1Isun =LQ64 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----