SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: September 02, 2024

Attack Types:

Institution(s):Mothers of Plaza de Mayo University

Region & Country:Americas | Argentina

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On September 2, 2024, Argentine Federal Police officers blocked student and staff access to the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo University, citing expired fire extinguishers.

In July, the government took over the management of the university and appointed Eduardo Maurizzio as the new rector

On September 2, police, clad in riot gear, blocked access to the campus’ main entrance. A handful of students and university staff who were already in the building were also prevented from exiting. Eduardo Maurizzio, the new government-appointed rector, announced to staff that they were not allowed to enter the university because of

The following day, Argentina’s Inter-University Council said that it was concerned about “the constant intimidatory function of the police presence” at the Mothers’ University.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about police blocking access to a university

Sources:
https://buenosairesherald.com/society/social-movements/mothers-of-plaza-de-mayo-ask-for-iachr-protection-after-police-blockade-university
https://www.telesurtv.net/policia-argentina-vuelve-a-intervenir-en-la-universidad-de-las-madres-de-plaza-de-mayo/