We promote the right of everyone to benefit from scientific progress and its applications

Science for Democracy (SfD) is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the human right to science. It was established in 2018 in the wake of the 5th World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research: “Science for Democracy: Towards the Human Right to Science”, by a group of members of the Associazione Luca Coscioni for the Freedom of Scientific Research (ALC).

SfD is the only non-governmental organization focusing exclusively on the intersection of human rights and science in general, and on the Right to Science specifically.

The name, Science for Democracy, hints at the core belief of its members: science and democracy are inextricably linked. Science is essential to democracy. We want to see more science in the political decision-making process and more scientific literacy amongst decision-makers and the public. At the same time, we believe that there must be more democracy in science. The scientific enterprise can and must be more transparent, accountable, inclusive, and open.

We believe that, when understood as a global public good intended to benefit everyone and when properly governed, science can do much to improve the human condition and our planet. We believe that the right to science can not only ensure that the benefits of science materialize and reach everyone but can also multiply the beneficial effects of other more established rights, from the right to health and freedom of speech, to the right to education and work.