Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 30, 2025 Human rights
Unilateral sanctions and their enforcement measures are increasingly undermining the realization of the right to education and other academic rights around the world, according to a new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures Elena Dovgan.
A document presented to the General Assembly in October assesses the impact of sanctions on access to education, scientific resources, and international academic cooperation. According to Dovgan, sanctions limit the supply of educational materials and technologies, degrade the quality of education, lead to a "brain drain," and discrimination based on nationality or origin. This affects not only the countries targeted by sanctions but also the countries that initiate them and third countries.
“Unilateral sanctions, the means by which they are applied, and their excessive enforcement undermine the right to education, the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress, and academic freedom worldwide, including in countries imposing sanctions,” Dovgan said, speaking during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Global implications for education
The report cites numerous examples: in Cuba, the number of university professors fell from 54,078 in 2021 to 50,298 in 2024, with a disproportionately large decrease for women, from 32,807 to 21,611; in Zimbabwe, the state education budget was cut; in Venezuela, the Ministry of Education's budget was cut by nearly 90 percent, leading to mass student dropouts and the destruction of infrastructure. In Iran and Syria, sanctions have made it difficult to purchase lab equipment and textbooks, and access to online platforms like Coursera, edX, and others is often blocked by IP addresses.
In Russia, Belarus, and several other countries, sanctions restrict access to international academic programs such as Erasmus and Horizon. There have been cases of refusal to participate in joint projects, restrictions on academic mobility, student visa revocations, and deportation of enrolled students. In many cases, restrictions are imposed solely on the basis of citizenship or country of origin, without individual assessment. Furthermore, financial sanctions often make it difficult to pay for applications, certificates, and tests, further limiting access to international education.
According to the report, there have been repeated reports of reluctance by publishers based in sanctioning countries to supply printed materials to Cuba, Iran, the Russian Federation, and Belarus, citing fears of prosecution.
Self-censorship and research limitations
Even without being directly subject to sanctions or imposing sanctions, universities and scientists in third countries are forced to comply with restrictions out of fear of reprisals or legal risks.
The Special Rapporteur notes that academics from countries imposing sanctions are often wary of participating in academic events in sanctioned countries or elsewhere if researchers from sanctioned countries are participating, as well as of collaborating with colleagues, publishing joint papers, or even responding to correspondence from organizers. These concerns, she notes, sometimes lead to self-censorship and restrictions on academic freedom. Specifically, she cited the example of Tallinn University, which stripped its former rector of his emeritus status for participating in a conference in Moscow.
Violation of international obligations
The Special Rapporteur emphasized that such measures contravene Articles 13–15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which guarantee the right to education and scientific freedom. Restricting access to knowledge and technology undermines progress in this area, which is unacceptable, the report states.
According to the Special Rapporteur, such actions effectively amount to discrimination on the basis of nationality and hinder the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 4 on quality education and SDG 10 on reducing inequalities.
Appeal to States and International Organizations
Dovgan called on states imposing sanctions to “lift all measures that are not in accordance with international law, including those directed against scientists and academic institutions,” and “ensure that the right to education and academic freedom are not affected by unilateral forms of pressure.”
Responsibility for violations of academic freedom lies with the states that impose sanctions and cannot be shifted to private entities or justified by geopolitical motives, the expert notes.
She also called on UNESCO to establish a mechanism to monitor the impact of sanctions on the right to education and academic freedom and to include these issues in evaluation reports on science and education. The International Labour Organization, she said, should monitor the impact of sanctions on child labor, access to decent work, and vocational training.
Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to examine either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are members of special procedures Human Rights Council. Special procedures experts are not UN staff and are independent of any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.