Civilians for the Freedom of Science Communication from Civilisation

We, the undersigned civil society organisations working in the Civilisation Coalition, stand up for the freedom of research guaranteed by the Fundamental Law, and express our solidarity with researchers and organisations opposing the Government’s plans for the operation and financing of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

The development and even the survival of a democratic society requires scientific research that is independent of political influence, as well as a diverse and prosperous civil society. Scientific results and information provide the basis for making decisions that are in the interest of all of us, for creating strategies and directions for progress. This is especially important today, when divisions are widening in our society and extremist ideas and news without scientific foundations is spreading. Meanwhile, our environment is threatened by the consequences of climate change and species loss, even in the very short term. As civil organisations, we also rely on the work of researchers every day, be they social or natural scientists.

The amendment of the law that the Ministry of Information and Technology intends to submit would deprive the Hungarian academic sector of its independence. However, science may only be pursued under predictable conditions, freely and subject to the self-management of the research community. We support this as civilians, and we expect others to join us.

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, demand the immediate withdrawal of the bill and respect for the independence of the Academy and the freedom of research.

Budapest, 4. June 2019.

We are looking forward to the joining of further organizations here.

Signatory Organizations:
The initiators are 27 signing organizations, the list is constantly expanding and is available here.