On February 2, 2023, the Office of the Faculty Regent convened the first-ever Tipunan, a systemwide consultative meeting on democratic governance in the University of the Philippines.
The Tipunan assembly adopted the proposal to create a Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights, both at the System level and in constituent universities.
Faculty Regent Carl Marc Ramota, Staff Regent Victoria Belegal, and Student Regent Siegfred Severino, together with the officers of the All U.P. Academic Employees Union, All U.P. Workers Union, and KASAMA sa UP had a meeting with President Angelo Jimenez and his management team on April 26, 2023 to facilitate the process of creating the Committee at the System level.
The proposed Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights will have the following functions:
a. Recommend policies and programs that strengthen the exercise of academic freedom;
b. Monitor, document, and report academic freedom violations;
c. Provide legal and logistical aid to any victim-constituent;
d. Deal with public relations; conduct press conferences; and release timely public statements;
e. Coordinate with national government agencies and local government units;
f. Organize paralegal training, information drives, and campaigns that further the exercise of academic freedom and uphold human rights.
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