Committee on Human Rights

Meeting Closed

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 9

June 12, 2025

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (EDT)

Past

About

On June 12, the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) convened the ninth meeting of leaders of healthcare and scientific associations to address the problem of broad-based assaults on health professionals.

Since the Forum’s creation in 2022, participants have shared that the group provides an important opportunity to discuss threats to the safety and well-being of health professionals, share relevant resources, and identify partners for independent initiatives (e.g., article, events) that address violence against health professionals in the U.S. and internationally. The goal of June meeting was to devise new strategies for advancing the aims of the Forum amidst intensifying attacks on health professionals around the world. The discussion was informed by the results of a Forum participant questionnaire that helped identify current barriers and opportunities for this work and concrete actions participants may be able to take to support health professionals, both domestically and internationally, in need of assistance.

Organizing Project

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals

Contact

Tracy Sahay

tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Lecture Closed

NAS Member Briefing: Threats to U.S. Scientists, Researchers, and Students

April 27, 2025

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EDT)

Past

About

The Committee on Human Rights’ annual briefing for NAS members focused on current threats to researchers, students, and educational institutions in the United States.

Dr. Rebekah Tromble, Director of the Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics at The George Washington University, shared information about her work to provide assistance for at-risk researchers. Dr. Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration (a consortium of college and university leaders), discussed the Alliance’s work to increase public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact students, campuses, and communities.

Contact

Committee on Human Rights

chr@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 8

March 3, 2025

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EST)

Past

About

On March 3, the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) convened the eighth meeting of leaders of healthcare and scientific associations to address the problem of broad-based assaults on health professionals.

During the meeting, attendees identified and shared through discussion tools and resources in support of health professionals under threat for their work to address racism in health and advance the work of health equity. The American Psychological Association (APA) also provided a short presentation on psychological safety and well-being of health professionals working in this space. This meeting served as a special follow-on to a November 2024 meeting, during which colleagues shared their lived experiences of threats and harassment stemming from their work in this area and the mental toll these attacks have had on their health.

Organizing Project

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals

Contact

Tracy Sahay

tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 7

November 25, 2024

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (EST)

Past

About

On November 25, 2024, the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) will convene its seventh meeting of leaders of healthcare and scientific associations to address the problem of broad-based assaults on health professionals.

The main topic for discussion at this meeting will be attacks on healthcare professionals working to address racism in health and advance the work of health equity. Several speakers will share their lived experiences of receiving threats and harassment stemming from their work in this area. Special attention will be paid to the mental health impact of these attacks on colleagues and potential ways in which the health community can support colleagues under threat for this work. The agenda will also allow participants of the Forum to share information concerning recent and upcoming activities related to the focus of the Forum.

Organizing Project

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals

Contact

Tracy Sahay

tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 6

May 15, 2024

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (EDT)

Past

About

On May 15, 2024, the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) convened the sixth meeting of leaders of healthcare and scientific associations to address the problem of broad-based assaults on health professionals.

Agenda items for this meeting included updates on member activities concerning the following topics:

Workplace Violence in the United States
Protection of Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)
Protection of Health Professionals in Conflict Situations

Organizing Project

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals

Contact

Tracy Sahay

tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Workshop

Addressing Challenges of Forced Displacement through STEM Education: Follow-Up Workshop

May 6 - 7, 2024

Past

About

Following a 2023 workshop, three universities piloted curriculum on engineering and forced displacement. This workshop gathered experts in the fields of human rights, forced displacement, engineering, and education to assess the success of the pilot courses, address common challenges that emerged during the pilot process, and explore opportunities for scaling up this project, including through increased engagement with other institutions. The workshop also included a conversation with several students enrolled in the pilot course at Boston University about their feelings on the course.
Please note attendance at this workshop was by invitation only.
Background:
The fields of engineering, basic, and applied sciences are often absent in discussions about education on forced displacement. As a result, students in science and engineering programs are frequently unaware of the complex challenges surrounding displacement and are ill-positioned to help address these challenges in their studies and future careers. In response to this concern, in March 2023, the Committee on Human Rights of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine and the Center on Forced Displacement at Boston University organized an international workshop of research scholars and STEM educators and practitioners to explore opportunities in higher education for teaching STEM students about forced displacement.
The aims of the workshop included (1) facilitating discussion around how to design and operationalize a pilot course or pilot modules for STEM students focused on addressing challenges associated with forced displacement and (2) developing a sketch/outline for a course/set of modules on this topic. Participants also discussed the types of content that should be addressed in such curricula, as well as explored which pedagogical approaches might be most useful for teaching content of this nature.

Organizing Project

Addressing Challenges of Forced Displacement through STEM Education: Collaborative Initiative with Boston University’s Center on Forced Displacement

Contact

Ana Deros

(202) 334-3043
aderos@Nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

After Roe: Preventing Harassment and Violence against Health Professionals Who Provide Reproductive Care. A Webinar

December 11, 2023

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (EST)

Past

Materials

About

The Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society is a group of experts of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that lead a cross-cutting initiative on equitable access to reproductive health. As part of the initiative, the standing committee organized webinars on reproductive health topics to increase awareness and promote dialogue.

This webinar, co-hosted with the Committee on Human Rights, examined concerns related to violence against health care professionals and health services providing reproductive care, and their patients, following the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. A panel of medical and human rights experts discussed longstanding concerns regarding harassment, threats, and physical attacks against health care professionals working to provide essential sexual and reproductive health care.

Moderator

Justin R. Lappen, MD, Division Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Speakers

Payal Shah, JD, Director of the Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones, Physicians for Human Rights
Anitra Beasley, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs (Ben Taub Hospital), Ryan Residency Training Program Director, Baylor College of Medicine
David Cohen, JD, Professor of Law, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and reproductive rights activist
Michelle Davidson, Director, Security, National Abortion Federation
Lisa Harris, MD, PhD, F. Wallace and Janet Jeffries Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Professor of Women's and Gender studies at University of Michigan

Organizing Project

After Roe: Preventing Harassment and Violence against Health Professionals Who Provide Reproductive Care. A Webinar

Contact

Tracy Sahay

TSahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 5

October 19, 2023

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

About

On October 19, 2023, the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) convened the fifth meeting of leaders of healthcare and scientific associations to address the problem of broad-based assaults on health professionals.

Agenda items for this meeting included:

Updates on Forum member activities and priority issues of concern
A brief presentation from the Coalition for Trust in Health and Science to learn more about their work, followed by a discussion on how members of the Forum may be able to work together with the Coalition on shared interests
An overview of the 2022 Safeguarding Health in Conflict Report, along with discussion of recent country situations in which health professionals and facilities are under grave threat

Organizing Project

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals

Contact

Tracy Sahay

tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Lecture Closed

NAM Member Briefing: Attacks on Health in Sudan

October 9, 2023

12:10 PM - 1:30 PM (EDT)

Past

About

The Committee on Human Rights' annual briefing for NAM members discussed the targeting of health professionals in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, as well as the severe impact of the violence on access to healthcare and education in the country.

Speakers:

Yasir Y. Elamin, President, Sudanese American Physicians Association
Shaza Bala Elmahdi, Sudan Country Director, Center for International Private Enterprise and Sudanese public health professional

WATCH THE VIDEO RECORDING

Contact

Committee on Human Rights

chr@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Lecture Closed

NAS Member Briefing: Academic Freedom in Central America

April 29, 2023

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM (EDT)

Past

About

On Saturday, April 29, the Committee on Human Rights hosted a briefing for NAS members on the state of scientific and academic freedom in Central America.

Contact

Committee on Human Rights

chr@nas.edu

Location

National Academy of Sciences Building

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington DC 20418, USA

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webcast

Beyond the Pandemic: Addressing Attacks on Researchers and Health Professionals

April 11, 2023

3:00 PM - 4:15 PM (EDT)

Past

Materials

Webcast Resources

About

The Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine gathered experts to explore practical steps that scientists, researchers, and health professionals are taking to protect themselves and their colleagues from targeting—including violence, harassment, and other attacks.

This event marked the launch of Proceedings—in Brief from the CHR’s fall 2022 webcast series, Silencing Scientists and Health Workers during the Pandemic, which examined threats and attacks against science and health researchers and practitioners connected to their work to combat the spread of COVID-19, as well as related implications for internationally-protected human rights.

Moderator:

Robert Lawrence, Center for a Livable Future Professor Emeritus, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine

Panel:

Michelle Morse, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Commissioner for Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Johanna Chao Kreilick, President, Union of Concerned Scientists

Tara Kirk Sell, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering; Senior Scholar, Center for Health Security, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Organizing Project

Silencing Scientists and Health Workers during the Pandemic: Webinar Series

Contact

Tracy Sahay

(202) 334-2397
tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Meeting Closed

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 4

April 3, 2023

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM (EDT)

Past

About

On April 3, 2023, the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) convened the fourth meeting of leaders of healthcare and scientific associations to address the problem of broad-based assaults on health professionals.

The main agenda for this meeting was to receive feedback from members of the Forum on possible National Academies’ activities to address attacks against health professionals. The agenda also included an informal discussion concerning emerging threats to healthcare providers, with brief remarks from participants of the Forum.

Organizing Project

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals

Contact

Tracy Sahay

tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Workshop

Addressing Challenges of Forced Displacement through STEM Education: A Workshop

March 9 - 10, 2023

Past

Agenda

Download the Agenda

Materials

About

The fields of engineering, basic, and applied sciences are often absent in discussions about education on forced displacement. As a result, students in science and engineering programs are frequently unaware of the complex challenges surrounding displacement and are ill-positioned to help address these challenges in their studies and future careers.

In response to this concern, the Committee on Human Rights of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine and the Center on Forced Displacement at Boston University organized an international workshop of research scholars and STEM educators and practitioners to explore opportunities in higher education for teaching STEM students about forced displacement.

The aims of the workshop included (1) facilitating discussion around how to design and operationalize a pilot course or pilot modules for STEM students focused on addressing challenges associated with forced displacement and (2) developing a sketch/outline for a course/set of modules on this topic. Participants also discussed the types of content that should be addressed in such curricula, as well as explored which pedagogical approaches might be most useful for teaching content of this nature.

Organizing Project

Addressing Challenges of Forced Displacement through STEM Education: Collaborative Initiative with Boston University’s Center on Forced Displacement

Contact

Ana Deros

(202) 334-3043
aderos@Nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Webinar

Constructing a Human Rights Framework for Online Health-Related Speech

October 26, 2022

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Past

Materials

About

Opening Remarks:

Dr. Carlos del Rio, Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Global Health and Epidemiology, Emory University School of Medicine; International Secretary, U.S. National Academy of Medicine; and Member, Committee on Human Rights of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine

Panel:

Dr. Evelyn Aswad, Herman G. Kaiser Chair in International Law and Director of the Center for International Business and Human Rights, the University of Oklahoma College of Law
Dr. David Kaye, Clinical Professor of Law, Irvine School of Law, University of California, Irvine; former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression

Concerns about freedom of expression and access to information during public health emergencies, and about inaccurate health information, increasingly involve online speech. In this virtual session, international human rights lawyer Evelyn Aswad and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye explored possibilities for a human rights-based approach to the regulation of online health-related speech.

Organizing Project

Silencing Scientists and Health Workers during the Pandemic: Webinar Series

Contact

Tracy Sahay

(202) 334-2397
tsahay@nas.edu

Disclaimer

It is essential to the National Academies mission of providing evidence-based advice that participants in any of our meetings or events avoid political or partisan statements or commentary and maintain a culture of mutual respect. The statements and presentations during our meetings or events are solely those of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of other participants or the National Academy of Sciences, which is a non-partisan, tax exempt organization that includes under its Charter the National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Medicine, and that operates the National Research Council.

Issues at the Intersection of Engineering and Human Rights

Read a newly released proceedings of a symposium that examined how engineering decisions intersect with human rights, social justice, ethics, equity, and global responsibility.

International Meeting on Academic Freedom and Human Rights

The CHR serves as the secretariat to the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies (IHRN), which recently held its 15th biennial meeting in Oslo, Norway. The meeting, hosted by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, focused on growing challenges to academic freedom worldwide.

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Committee on Human Rights

News and Updates

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 9

NAS Member Briefing: Threats to U.S. Scientists, Researchers, and Students

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 8

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 7

Issues at the Intersection of Engineering and Human Rights: A Symposium

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 6

Addressing Challenges of Forced Displacement through STEM Education: Follow-Up Workshop

After Roe: Preventing Harassment and Violence against Health Professionals Who Provide Reproductive Care. A Webinar

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 5

NAM Member Briefing: Attacks on Health in Sudan

NAS Member Briefing: Academic Freedom in Central America

Beyond the Pandemic: Addressing Attacks on Researchers and Health Professionals

Forum to Address Attacks on Health Professionals: Meeting 4

Addressing Challenges of Forced Displacement through STEM Education: A Workshop

Constructing a Human Rights Framework for Online Health-Related Speech