Finding solidarity across Europe: Students, faculty, and civic society leaders advocate for Marfa Rabkova — European Student Advocacy Days 2025

From April 29-30, SAR and the University of Dundee welcomed over 70 students from Austria, Norway, Italy, Sweden, and the UK for the 2025 European Student Advocacy Days! The students, who had advocated on behalf of wrongfully imprisoned scholars and students around the world through SAR’s Student Advocacy Seminar program, were also joined by university faculty, civic society leaders, and government officials from across Europe. Together, they fostered a cross-national community of academic freedom advocates dedicated to bringing the new skills and connections they’d made back to their local campuses.

Coming together to share stories, experience, and learning opportunities from advocates across Europe

On the first day of the two-day event, students from the University of Dundee, Linkoping University, the University of Oslo, the University of Agder, MCI Innsbruck, the University of Pisa, the University of Padova, and the University of Trento gathered at the University of Dundee, Scotland. There, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of democratic Belarus, opened the event with a galvanizing message on the need to defend scholars and students who had been imprisoned “because they were defending the truth.”

Her inspiring remarks were followed by a series of presentations from students who were doing advocacy on behalf of Marfa Ryabkova, a wrongfully imprisoned student activist in Belarus. Students shared advocacy updates from their respective campuses, handed out campaign materials, and reflected on the simultaneously challenging and rewarding experience of calling attention to human rights abuses around the world.

Students also had the opportunity to virtually meet with student activists from Belarus, Kenya, and Zambia who had been incarcerated for their advocacy. They discussed how imprisonment had upended their lives, altering everything from their ability to travel, open bank accounts, pursue employment, and means of activism.

Marharyta Vorykhava, member of Advisory Council on Youth at the Council of Europe, leads a presentation on student activism.

University of Trento share updates from their ongoing campus campaigns for Scholars in Prison.

The emphasis on sharing experiences, stories, and strategies was deeply impactful for students. As one University of Dundee student recounted, 

“It was so nice to see students from different universities all coming together, not just with their own projects, but united by a shared purpose and advocacy experience. It didn’t feel like separate groups working in isolation but more like a collective effort, which I believe made the discussions richer and more meaningful.”

Meeting European policymakers and calling for action for Rabkova 

On the second day, students traveled to Edinburgh and met with a variety of government officials, including Scottish Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs Angus Robertson, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yusaf, and multiple Scottish political and civil offices. 

MSP Humaz Yousef and Libereco’s Ken McBain speak about NGO-govt joint human rights advocacy at the Scottish Parliament.

Students engage with Scottish civil servants best practices for on human rights advocacy at the Scottish Parliament.

During meetings with Scottish political leaders, students advocated for the adoption of Marfa Rabkova as a “god-child” of the Scottish government—a term used to request that European leaders advocate for a scholar, even if they were a non-citizen of their state. In a show of international solidarity, students across the European continent also emphasized Rabkova’s wrongful detention and argued that an attack on a single member of the higher education community is an attack on all. 

Their efforts resonated with Cabinet Secretary Robertson:

“In a world where democracy and human rights face increasing threats, it is vital that we stand in solidarity with those advocating for freedom, dignity and democracy. I was honoured to share Scotland’s perspective with a new generation of human rights advocates, whose passion and commitment offer hope for the future.” 

SAR applauds the students whose collective advocacy helps forge relationships with government officials across Europe. As scholars continue to face threats to their lives, cross-national communities of academic freedom advocates—students, faculty, and civic society leaders included—are increasingly crucial to securing their freedom. 

Learn more about SAR’s Student Advocacy Days and how to start a seminar on your campus to join us next year here.