Science4Peace Forum - On International Law and the Protection of Peaceful Protest (text in pdf format)

The Science4Peace Forum reaffirms that respect for international law is a binding obligation of all states and a fundamental condition for international peace, security, and the protection of human rights.

We endorse the statement of the German Society of International Law: "The sovereign equality of states, the prohibition of the use of force, the principle of non intervention and the right of peoples to self-determination are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as central pillars of the international order."
We further support the statement of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs:"Guided by the Russell–Einstein Manifesto, we remind the international community of its shared responsibility to remember our humanity and to prioritize diplomacy, dialogue, and restraint over recourse to force."

The Science4Peace Forum condemns all violations of international law, irrespective of the state or actor responsible. The selective application of international law undermines its authority and is incompatible with the rule of law at the international level.

We reaffirm the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948. Article 20 guarantees that "Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association", which must be respected, protected, and fulfilled by all states.

The Science4Peace Forum calls upon all governments to comply fully with their obligations under international human rights law, to protect peaceful assemblies, and to prevent the use of excessive or lethal force against peaceful protesters.

We condemn in the strongest terms the mass killing of peaceful protesters in Iran in January 2026. We likewise condemn the killing of peaceful protesters in the United States, including the events in Minneapolis in January 2026.

The use of lethal force against peaceful protesters constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law and requires investigation, accountability, and effective remedies.

The Science4Peace Forum urges the international community to uphold international law consistently and without double standards, and to act decisively to protect human life, human dignity, and the rule of law.

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Full text of declaration in pdf format.