The International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) is the oldest existing
non-governmental body committed to international scientific cooperation for the benefit of
humanity. Created in 1931 when its predecessor, the International Research Council, was
dissolved because of discrimination against scientists from certain countries, ICSU has
consistently and vigorously pursued a policy of non-discrimination. ICSU maintains that
discrimination hinders the free communication and exchange of ideas and information among
scientists and thereby impedes scientific progress, which is dependent on their collective
efforts.
ICSU's Members are 23 International Scientific Unions and 94 national academies of
science or research councils. Together these organizations set up international mechanisms
to carry out scientific programmes of an interdisciplinary nature which are concerned with
issues such as protection of the environment, research in Antarctic regions or space
research. An important factor in the success of these activities is that they are carried
out under the aegis of such a respected independent and international scientific body as
ICSU. Each of the International Scientific Unions, the National Scientific Members, ICSU
interdisciplinary bodies, and Scientific Associates - the organizations comprising the
ICSU family - strictly adheres to the basic principles of the Council's Statutes when
involved in activities carried out within the scope of ICSU's concern.
One of the basic principles in these Statutes is that of the universality of science,
which affirms the right and freedom of scientists to associate in international scientific
activity without regard to such factors as citizenship, religion, creed, political stance,
ethnic origin, race, colour, language, age or sex. Such rights are embodied in a variety
of articles in the International Bill of Human Rights2.
ICSU seeks to protect and promote awareness of the rights and fundamental freedoms of
scientists in their scientific pursuits. ICSU has a well-established non-political
tradition which is central to its character and operations, and it does not permit any of
its activities to be disturbed by statements or actions of a political nature.
As the intrinsic nature of science is universal, its success depends on cooperation,
interaction and exchange, often beyond national boundaries. Therefore ICSU strongly
supports the principle that scientists must have free access to each other and to
scientific data and information. It is only through such access that international
scientific cooperation flourishes and science thus progresses.
On these grounds, ICSU works to resolve such cases as do, nevertheless, arise from time
to time when such open access is denied or restricted and in cases primarily involving
members of the ICSU family. In most cases, private consultations involving members of the
ICSU family have been successful. Where private consultations have failed, ICSU has
publicized acts of discrimination against scientists and taken steps to prevent their
repetition, including, if necessary, such measures as encouraging members of the ICSU
family to decline invitations to hold or attend meetings in the country concerned.
On the basis of its firm and unwavering commitment to the principle of the universality
of science, ICSU reaffirms its opposition to any actions which weaken or undermine this
principle.
1 Approved by the Executive Board and General Committee of ICSU,
Lisbon, October 1989, revised by the Executive Board, Rabat, October 1994, and further
revised by the General Committee at its meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, October 1995.
2 The International Bill of Human Rights includes three documents: the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights
(1966).
