Uppsala declaration

[Doris Lydahl]

Dear colleagues,

I know this is an unusual message for this email list, but we are living in unusual times. The world is watching while a population of over two million is being deliberately starved, children are dying in large numbers, and military force is deliberately targeting civilians. Below is an opportunity for everyone who works in Swedish higher education and research to make a difference for the people in Gaza.

Our colleagues at Uppsala University have drafted a Declaration for Conscientious Objection to collaborating with Israeli institutions that actively contribute to illegal occupation, apartheid, genocide, and other violations of international law. Please note that this is not a call against individual contacts or collaborations with Israeli researchers, but is only about ending formal, institutional collaborations.

The Uppsala Declaration has been written in consultation with legal experts as well as Palestinian and Israeli scholars. Anyone with a position in Swedish higher education and research can sign. You can read and sign the declaration here: https://uppsaladeclaration.se/

So far, the declaration has garnered over 1,900 signatories, but we need to grow even more show our institutional managements that there is broad and increasing support within our ranks to stand up against the unfoldning genocide. Together, we can make a difference. Please share this information with colleagues and friends.

I know this can be a controversial issue, and I am happy to have a conversation if you find it difficult to sign and/or would like to know more about the declaration before taking a stand. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with your questions! In the meantime, the drafters of the Uppsala Declaration have prepared a document with answers to some frequently asked questions.

Kind regards,

Doris Lydahl