Despite the launch of the Inter-American principles on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy in 2021 and its recognition of the importance of academic freedom for free and democratic societies, the higher education sector has continued to experience growing threats. Science denialism, disinformation and misinformation further complicate and render oppressive the environments where academics and students learn, share ideas, critically evaluate government policies and programs, and seek to find solutions to societal problems.
CAFA is pleased to present the Fifth Conference on Academic Freedom in the Americas (#CAFA2026) under the theme Pathways to Implementing the Right to Academic Freedom across the Americas. The conference on October 21 and 22, 2026 at the University of Ottawa, in Canada.
Presenters will discuss, from a human rights perspective, the real-world impacts of threats to academic freedom, such as political interference and authoritarianism in higher education, disinformation and science denialism, violence in university settings, the impact of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as student activism and the participation of historically marginalized groups.
Call for papers
For the conference, CAFA invites submissions that highlight challenges and opportunities in protection, advocacy, litigation and best practices in academic freedom and university autonomy.
Interested authors are invited to send an abstract (350 words max.) and a 100-word personal biography by March 2, 2026 to annualconference@cafa-claa.org. Individuals whose abstracts are selected will be notified by March 16, 2026. The Coalition accepts proposals in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
Program & Panelists
We will share all conference details as soon as they become available.
About CAFA
The Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas (CAFA) is a non-governmental and not-for-profit network, created in 2021, headquartered at the University of Monterrey (UDEM), Mexico. It was founded by Scholars at Risk, UDEM, and the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC) at the University of Ottawa.
Its membership spans across the hemisphere, having established institutional relations with key partners from national and international settings. CAFA is unwavering in its commitment to defending and promoting academic freedom as a fundamental human right. We believe that academic freedom is the cornerstone of democratic societies, facilitating scientific progress, cultural and social development, and the realisation of all other human rights. Educators, researchers and students must be able to operate free from fear, discrimination or repression, and participate in public debate as equal members of society.