At the 2009, World Conference on Higher Education, UAF together with partnerorganisations raised awareness for supporting threatened and refugee scholars. The organisations asked UNESCO among others to take the initiative in establishing an annual International Academic Freedom Day to highlight the importance of academic freedom, institutional autonomy and social responsibility not only for the education sector but for all members of society. Click here to read the full statement. Also read the speech by the executive director of NEAR, Professor John Akker and article in University World News.