The Human Rights Committee of the Council of Finnish Academies promotes the human rights of academics and strives for the freedom of science.

The Human Rights Committee appeals for scientists, engineers and health professionals suffering from serious human rights abuses. In 2021 the Committee appealed for nine academics around the world. This global activity is coordinated by International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies.

The Human Rights Committee is chaired by professor Liisa Laakso. The members – nominated by the executive committee of the Council – are docent Tuula Juvonen, docent Outi Luova, docent Katalin Miklossy, professor emeritus Ilkka Pöyhönen (vice chair), docent Virpi Salojärvi and professor Martin Scheinin.

Academy Secretary Arto Miettinen is the Secretary of the Committee.

If you have an issue or a question related to human rights of academics, please contact:

humanrights@academies.fi

Finnish Science Academies' Risto Pelkonen Human Rights Award

Finnish Science Academies’ Risto Pelkonen Human Rights Award can be granted for active efforts in promoting human rights in academic communities. The award jury is the Human Rights Committee.

The criteria for the award:

  • The award can be granted to a person, organization, or community for active efforts in promoting freedom of science, academic freedom or human rights of academics.
  • The awarded person/organization/community can operate locally or internationally, within or outside the academic community.
  • The activity can relate to fostering of human rights (such as freedom of speech) of academics or ensuring the foundations and possibilities for diversified academic work and scientific processes;
  • the activity can relate to immediate intervening in human rights violations of academics or fighting against discrimination in its many forms;
  • The activity can relate to objecting to hate speech, stigmatising of academics, or demeaning of scientific knowledge or communities.

The first award was granted in 2022 to the Scholars at Risk collaboration network of Finnish universities for its work in supporting persecuted researchers. In 2023, the award went to the Finnish National Theatre for the premiere of the play Dosentit, and in 2024 it was granted to Historians without Borders in Finland. In 2025, the award was given to professor Hanna Nohynek for her internationally significant work in vaccine research and in promoting evidence-based decision-making related to global health.