Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle

At the request of the Rector of UWr prof. Robert Olkiewicz, the Rector-Dean College of the University of Wrocław on 17 May 2023, unanimously took the position that “freedom of Speech is a fundamental principle of civil society and even the most difficult ethical, moral or political issues should be considered in an open scientific debate, conducted without fear of any sanctions”.

“We are concerned by the announcements made by representatives of state authorities suggesting the possibility of limiting public funding for scientific entities whose research leads to conclusions unacceptable to the authorities”. – the members of the college concluded.

At the next meeting of the UWr Senate on 24 May 2023, the senators will consider a draft resolution ‘on expressing an opinion regarding the freedom of scientific research and its publication’.

An excerpt from the draft reads: “The Senate of the University of Wrocław wishes to emphasise that, in its opinion, the freedom to conduct scientific research and to publish its results is an immanent element of the autonomy of every university. Without autonomy understood as the freedom to conduct all kinds of research and inquiry, neither scientific progress nor social development is conceivable”.