Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25-26th February 2020 – In an effort to contribute to the current global discussion regarding the “Right to Science”, specifically the general comment on science drafted by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST) was a spokesperson at the 6^th Meeting of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research, hosted by the Commission of the African Union and organized by the Luca Coscioni Association and Science for Democracy. Participants of the Addis Congress had an opportunity to “explain the ramifications of the ‘right of’ and the ‘right to’ science on variety of topics”, maintaining that scientific evidence be taken into consideration when developing policy while “stressing the need to educate the general public on the ways in which science works through the verification, duplication and falsification of research”. [Science for Democracy]

During the two-day meeting, participants representing government, regional and international organizations and offices, academics and research institutions, media, civil society and non-governmental organizations discussed the therapeutic use of stem cells, the importance of genetic medicine, sexual and reproductive health and rights, new breeding techniques, the introduction of safer products on the market, open access to science and the promotion of civilian use of artificial intelligence. [Science for Democracy]