As conflicts and crises escalate worldwide, higher education is often caught in a crossfire, depriving many of their fundamental right to learn and freely express, in a safe environment. In Palestine, we are witnessing the systematic and intentional obliteration of the wider education system by Israel, also referred to as 'scholasticide'. In Myanmar, students and scholars remain severely at risk under the military junta, who continues to brutally crack down on their human rights and learning opportunities. As international calls for protecting academic freedom grow, how can we safeguard higher education against the pressures of conflict?

Join us for the launch of the Scholars at Risk 'Free to Think 2024', a comprehensive annual report of the global state of academic freedom.

This panel will particularly focus on Palestine and Myanmar, where scholars, students and universities are under siege. From military raids and campus closures to surveillance and detentions, the panellists will highlight how academic institutions and individuals are targeted in these regions and beyond, effectively turning learning spaces into battlegrounds.