Director of the LAC (Legal Assistance Centre) of Namibia, Toni Hancox (picture below), directed a strongly-worded letter to Prof. Alaphia Wright, Coordinator: Evaluation Capacity Development, (UNESCO), expressing shock at the involvement of UNESCO in co-hosting a workshop with the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), the purpose of the workshop being a discussion of the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Mechanism, Monitoring and Evaluation System. In addition, Hancox pointed out UNESCO's involvement in co-hosting the workshop shows a clear disregard for its own UNESCO Constitution which seeks to promote 'the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth' and 'the free exchange of ideas and knowledge'.
The LAC in Namibia is about to commence a legal challenge to the law in connection with Namibia's Research, Science and Technology Act 23 of 2004 and in the letter, Hancox explained the 'current framework appears to violate both the letter and spirit of the Namibian Constitution', undermining the very idea of democracy and a free marketplace of ideas, characterised by freedom of speech, thought and debate, which sustain a democracy.
The controversial Research, Science and Technology Act 23 of 2004 requires that a research institute or an individual researcher based in Namibia must register with the Commission (NCRST) before conducting any kind of research. The Act provides no criteria for registration and leaves the decision entirely up to the discretion of the Commission. The Regulations further require both Namibian and non-Namibian research entities to submit a lengthy and detailed application for a research certificate, in respect of every individual research project. Failure to register will result in a fine of up to N$ 20 000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years. The Regulations of the Act also permit the Commission (NCRST) to prohibit any further research by an individual or a research entity.
Comparative law research revealed not a single other democratic country in the world, requires government registration and approval (certification) for all (any) proposed research projects. Instead, statutory bodies promote and fund research and research projects, in other democratic countries. An example of a non-democratic country with a similar regulatory environment, is North Korea.
(Picture: Prof. Alaphia Wright - UNESCO)
The LAC is not alone in raising serious concerns regarding the Research, Science and Technology Act 23 of 2004. The Namibian NGO Forum (NaNGOF) Trust has written numerous letters voicing civil society's concerns, to the Minister of Education. A delegation met with the Minister of Education personally on 21st May 2013, was promised feedback within 2 weeks of that meeting, but still found waiting, 3 months later.
In her letter, Toni Hancox concludes with the following:
'We urge UNESCO not to give validation or endorsement to the current legal framework for research, science and technology (but to) rather join in (sic) the calls for reform of the legal framework to fit (sic) a democratic society which cherishes freedom of thought and speech.'
Namibian Constitution (Article 21, 1, b):
'...freedom of thought, conscience and belief, which shall include academic freedom in institutions of higher learning...'
The LAC in Namibia is about to commence a legal challenge to the law in connection with Namibia's Research, Science and Technology Act 23 of 2004 and in the letter, Hancox explained the 'current framework appears to violate both the letter and spirit of the Namibian Constitution', undermining the very idea of democracy and a free marketplace of ideas, characterised by freedom of speech, thought and debate, which sustain a democracy.
The controversial Research, Science and Technology Act 23 of 2004 requires that a research institute or an individual researcher based in Namibia must register with the Commission (NCRST) before conducting any kind of research. The Act provides no criteria for registration and leaves the decision entirely up to the discretion of the Commission. The Regulations further require both Namibian and non-Namibian research entities to submit a lengthy and detailed application for a research certificate, in respect of every individual research project. Failure to register will result in a fine of up to N$ 20 000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years. The Regulations of the Act also permit the Commission (NCRST) to prohibit any further research by an individual or a research entity.
Comparative law research revealed not a single other democratic country in the world, requires government registration and approval (certification) for all (any) proposed research projects. Instead, statutory bodies promote and fund research and research projects, in other democratic countries. An example of a non-democratic country with a similar regulatory environment, is North Korea.
(Picture: Prof. Alaphia Wright - UNESCO)
The LAC is not alone in raising serious concerns regarding the Research, Science and Technology Act 23 of 2004. The Namibian NGO Forum (NaNGOF) Trust has written numerous letters voicing civil society's concerns, to the Minister of Education. A delegation met with the Minister of Education personally on 21st May 2013, was promised feedback within 2 weeks of that meeting, but still found waiting, 3 months later.
In her letter, Toni Hancox concludes with the following:
'We urge UNESCO not to give validation or endorsement to the current legal framework for research, science and technology (but to) rather join in (sic) the calls for reform of the legal framework to fit (sic) a democratic society which cherishes freedom of thought and speech.'
Namibian Constitution (Article 21, 1, b):
'...freedom of thought, conscience and belief, which shall include academic freedom in institutions of higher learning...'
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