Pharma Threatens Human Rights Today, December 10th, 2008, is the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Article 19 states: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Dr. Nancy Olivieri has recently been served a lawsuit by a drug manufacturer that means not only can she not talk about the factual things that happened to her, she can't participate in conferences on academic freedom where there is no reference to her case at all. Academic freedom is one kind of freedom of expression and is a constitutionally protected right in Canada under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Canadian Health Coalition agrees with the views of the Canadian Association of University Teachers that this legal action against Dr. Olivieri raises serious and disturbing issues of academic freedom. The power and money of pharmaceutical companies must not be permitted to take fundamental human rights away from any person anywhere. The Canadian Health Coalition strongly condemns these actions against Dr. Olivieri. Related: Globe and Mail, December 8, 2008 New chapter in Apotex legal battle Canadian Association of University Teachers Statement, December 8, 2008 Apotex Inc. v. Olivieri: An Attack on Academic Freedom Canadian Federation of University Women, December 15, 2008 Human Rights and Academic Freedom