Is there a defined right to research or a defined right to academic
freedom in international law or (european law)? 'Defined' in the sense
that specific reference in legislation can be found, for example,  the
right to privacy can be found in article 8 of the European Convention
on Human Rights. Or, is there any reference to a right to advance
knowledge?

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Clarification of Question by mcmullet-ga on 10 Apr 2006 09:22 PDT

Has to be the most recent legislation, thereby being the most recent
authority on the matter

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 10 Apr 2006 17:49 PDT

mcmullet-ga,

The closest thing in recent years seems to be this 2005 Statement on
Academic Freedom:


http://www.columbia.edu/cu/president/communications%20files/globalcolloquium.htm


The statement does not have the effect of law, but it is an attempt to
codify an international consensus on this topic.  The statement does
mention some earlier efforts in this regard, including a 1950s UN
(UNESCO) declaration on academic freedom.

Does this help at all?

pafalafa-ga

I am not sure what you are looking for.  No doubt, you have already
also looked at the UN Human Rights Charter.
Since certain types of cloning of humans and use of embryos has been
made illegal in some countries, to me this would imply that there is
an assumption that there is a right to research   - of anything that
has not been defined as illegal.
By the same line of reasoning, if there existed a defined right to
research in some international or national "bill of rights",  I expect
that this would have been mentioned during the discussions concerning
research on embryos.

Somewhat similarly, research and development of nuclear bombs is
controlled via an international agreement between the member nations 
- but only as it applies to them.  Again, I think we would have heard
about a defined right to research in connection with this.

These examples suggest that such a defined right to research of a very
general nature would be very problematic, especially as an
international agreement.
I don't believe such exists.

This is a free comment, not an "answer" to your question.