Leopoldina Human Rights Committee
When science comes under pressure, individual researchers are often among those most directly affected. The Leopoldina’s Human Rights Committee (HRC) works to ensure that scientists can carry out their work freely and safely – without political pressure, censorship or fear.
Last edited: 21. July 2026
Individual Support
Since its establishment in 2001, the HRC has supported researchers at risk. While other organisations primarily offer time-limited exile programmes, the HRC complements this assistance through targeted advocacy activities on behalf of affected individuals.
By writing to heads of state and government as well as diplomatic representations, the HRC draws attention to specific individual cases. Its aim is to help bring abusive or politically motivated proceedings to an end, secure release from detention, lift travel bans, or enable a return to research and teaching.
Each intervention is carefully reviewed; the HRC acts independently, impartially and on the basis of verified facts. Its key point of reference is the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Raising Awareness of Human Rights Protection
Another task of the HRC is to raise public awareness of human rights issues in science through statements, publications and conferences.
The HRC regularly organises the Human Rights and Science symposium, in which human rights aspects are discussed in the context of ethical, societal and political questions. These meetings also help to strengthen networking with comparable bodies at other academies across Europe.
The HRC has been a member of the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies (IHRN) since 2003.
Members of the Leopoldina Human Rights Committee
Prof. Dr. Jutta Gärtner (Chairperson) ▸
- Gynäkologie und Pädiatrie
- Göttingen, DE
- Election year 2014
Professor Dr
Ulla Bonas ▸
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Election year 2008
Professor Dr
Andrea Bréard ▸
- History of Science and Medicine
- Election year 2021
Professor Dr
Wolfgang Lutz ▸
- Economics and Empirical Social Sciences
- Election year 2012
Professor Dr Angelika Nußberger ▸
- Human rights protection, constitutional law, rule of law
- Cologne
Professor Dr
Brigitte Tag ▸
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Election year 2013
Impressions
Participants at the Human Rights & Science Symposium 2013 at the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Warsaw, Poland
Participants at the 11th Biennial Meeting of the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies at the Leopoldina, 2014, Halle
Human Rights & Science Symposium at the French Academy of Sciences (Académie des sciences), 2019, Paris, France
Participants at the Human Rights & Science Symposium at the French Academy of Sciences (Académie des sciences), 2019, Paris, France
Human Rights & Science Symposium 2024, Berlin
Panel “Who Owns Academia” at the Human Rights & Science Symposium 2024, Berlin
Session 1 of the Human Rights & Science Symposium 2024, Berlin
Participants at the European Academies Representative Meeting held on the occasion of the Human Rights & Science Symposium 2024, Berlin