Communiqué on combatting structural racism and discrimination from the InterAcademy Partnership

Today the leadership of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) released the IAP Communiqué on combatting structural racism and discrimination.

The  events  that  have  unfolded  since  the  unjust and  untimely  death  of  George  Floyd  have  served  as  a  painful  reminder  of  the  problem  of  entrenched  systemic racism in our societies, not only in the United States, but in most countries in the world. The actions of racial equality activists from around the globe have exemplified just how strongly this has resonated with all of us.

The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) is by its very nature  –  as  the  association  of  over  140  academies  from  all  corners  of  the  world  –  opposed  to  racism  and  discrimination.  The cooperation within and between the academies is solely based on scientific merit.  Furthermore,  IAP  is  continually  committed to  maintaining  diversity  among  its  leadership,  staff  and  volunteers  and  promoting  inclusivity  in  all  of  its  activities.

In this historic moment in time, we are acutely aware of the unique role that the scientific community is poised to play.  We  are  invested  in  engaging  our global  colleagues  in  the  work  that  must  be  done  to  deconstruct discriminatory policies rooted in systemic racism.

We  fundamentally  believe  that  any  solutions  to combatting structural racism and discrimination must be rooted in a global effort to address and dismantle the  systems  and  policies  that  have  allowed  these  practices  to  be  maintained. As  such,  we  stand  in solidarity  with  those  who  are  committed  to  bringing  about  not  only  justice,  but  lasting  change. As  we move  forward,  we  are  committed  to  endeavoring  to  bring  about  a  society  in  which  everyone  is  treated  without bias and is afforded equal opportunities.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is also shining a bright light on the striking racial and social disparities in  access  to  and  quality  of  medical  care  for  black  people  and  other  ethnic  minorities  as  well  as  other  socially disadvantaged people. IAP and many of its member  academies  have  joined  a  movement  led by  health  policy  experts  from  around  the  world  to  demand  health  equity  globally  and  we  are  engaged  in a resulting ongoing dialogue with UN and WHO leadership on this issue.

IAP reaffirms its commitment to its vision – that the world’s academies play a vital role in ensuring that science serves society inclusively and equitably. IAP is also involved in a forthcoming project on the right to science, recognizing that all people have the right to share in the benefits of advances in science and technology.

IAP joins the International Science Council (ISC) and its international partners in the science community in undertaking urgent action to participate in a global dialogue on systemic discrimination in science and to take concrete actions aimed at combatting it.

You can download the document here, and see a video by IAP Science Co-chair Krishan Lal here: