Silencing Scientists and Health Workers during the Pandemic: Webinar Series

Webcast

Beyond the Pandemic: Addressing Attacks on Researchers and Health Professionals

April 11, 2023

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

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

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.

Webinar

Constructing a Human Rights Framework for Online Health-Related Speech

October 26, 2022

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

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.

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.

Webinar

Reflections on Science Communication & Human Rights amid Public Health Emergencies

October 20, 2022

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

Chair, Prof. Helle Porsdam, Professor of Law and Humanities and UNESCO Chair in Cultural Rights, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen
Dr. Bina Venkataraman, Editor-at-Large, The Boston Globe; Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Dr. Chris Beyrer, Director, Duke Global Health Institute; member, Committee on Human Rights, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine

Dr. Bina Venkataraman, Editor-at-Large for The Boston Globe and Dr. Chris Beyrer, Director of Duke University’s Global Health Institute discussed science communication during public health emergencies, the role of public health researchers and journalists in advancing human rights, and emerging lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderated by Dr. Helle Porsdam and hosted by the Committee on Human Rights.

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.

Webinar

Censorship and the Right to Information during the Pandemic

September 29, 2022

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

Chair, Dr. Vivi Stavrou, Executive Secretary, Committee for Freedom and Responsibility in Science, International Science Council
Mr. Joel Simon, Research Fellow, Tow Center for Digital Journalism, Columbia University; former Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists
Dr. Michel Roberto de Souza, Public Policy Director, Derechos Digitales
This webcast, hosted by the Committee on Human Rights, examined global concerns regarding governmental repression of public health information related to the pandemic through use of criminal law and other means. Panelists discussed the challenge of protecting freedom of expression and access to information during the pandemic, while addressing concerns regarding mis- and disinformation.

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.

Webinar

Global Patterns of COVID-19-related Violence against Health Workers

September 21, 2022

10:00 AM - 11:15 AM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

Chair, Dr. Michele Heisler, Medical Director, Physicians for Human Rights; Professor of Internal Medicine and of Public Health, University of Michigan
Ms. Clarisse Delorme, Senior Policy Advisor, World Medical Association
Dr. Eric Kwezi, Deputy Health Coordinator in Yemen, International Committee of the Red Cross
Ms. Hoi Shan Fokeladeh, Policy Advisor, Nursing and Health Policy, International Council of Nurses

In many countries, the pandemic has increased violence against physicians, nurses, and other health care providers, partly due to widespread fear and mis/disinformation. This virtual session, hosted by the Committee on Human Rights, gathered experts from the global health community to examine this worrying development, along with strategies being taken to protect and safeguard the rights of health personnel. The session included discussion of a recent report by the International Council of Nurses, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Hospital Federation, and World Medical Association on current practices to prevent, reduce, or mitigate violence against health care.

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.

Webinar

The Targeting of Scientists and Public Health Professionals

September 1, 2022

2:30 PM - 4:15 PM (ET)

Past

Materials

About

Since the onset of the pandemic, scientists and public health professionals have been subjected to threats and other attacks as a result of their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 with public health interventions and information. In this webcast hosted by the Committee on Human Rights, leading U.S. public health experts discussed the implications of these attacks, for targeted individuals and for society, and possibilities for addressing them.

Welcome

Dr. Martin Chalfie, University Professor, Columbia University; Chair, Committee on Human Rights of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Medicine
Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, Executive Director, American Public Health Association

New Research Findings: Harassment and Threats against U.S. Public Health Officials

Dr. Beth Resnick, Assistant Dean, Public Health Practice and Director, MSPH Program in Health Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Panel Discussion

Chair, Dr. Michelle Mello, Professor of Law, Stanford Law School; Professor of Health Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine
Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine; Co-Director, Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development
Dr. Aletha Maybank, Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President, American Medical Association
Dr. Nichole Quick, Medical Director, KCS Health Center; former Chief Health Officer, Orange County, California

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.

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Silencing Scientists and Health Workers during the Pandemic: Webinar Series

Dropdown items

Beyond the Pandemic: Addressing Attacks on Researchers and Health Professionals

Constructing a Human Rights Framework for Online Health-Related Speech

Reflections on Science Communication & Human Rights amid Public Health Emergencies

Censorship and the Right to Information during the Pandemic

Global Patterns of COVID-19-related Violence against Health Workers

The Targeting of Scientists and Public Health Professionals