“The commitment of our Universitat to Human Rights goes back a long way and is based on the spirit of search for democracy, freedom and equality throughout the centuries”, stated the principal of the Universitat de València, Mª Vicenta Mestre, at the ordinary meeting of the Senate of the Universitat de València, held on 22 February in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

The principal informed the Senate that, since 9 November 2023, the Governing Council of the Universitat has taken a clear and unequivocal position against the violation of International Humanitarian Law that is taking place in the Gaza Strip by the State of Israel at its meetings on 19 December and 30 January.

In relation to the legal situation of Israel's military intervention in Gaza, the Institute of Human Rights of the UV issued a report at the request of the principal, which has been made available to the members of the Senate. As the principal informed the Governing Council, a point was added to the agenda of the Senate to address this situation, also in response to the request of a number of members of this body, in accordance with the provisions of its regulations.

This group of cloistral members asked the Senate to take a position and to demand compliance with international law and the Charter of Human Rights and the severance of relations with any university, institution and company that supports the Israeli government. They also demanded for a solution to the Palestinian conflict, calling for the creation of a Palestinian state and its international recognition.

The principal of the Universitat de València informed the Senate that the UV does not currently have any collaboration agreement with universities in Israel and that, for the period beginning in 2024, it has not included any Israeli university institution in its Erasmus mobility programme.

The Senate of the Universitat de València has pronounced the following institutional declaration with 153 votes in favour, 33 abstentions and no votes against.

Institutional Declaration of the Senate of the Universitat de València

The Universitat de València is at the service of the intellectual and material development of the people, the progress of knowledge, peace, equality between women and men and the ecological defence of the environment, as expressed in the fourth article of our Statutes.

In its firm commitment to peace, justice, human rights and democratic values, the Governing Council of the Universitat de València has spoken out in each of its ordinary sessions over the last four months in solidarity with the civilian population of Gaza. The Governing Council has reiterated their rejection of the Israeli military actions that violate international law and international humanitarian law and are producing thousands of dead, wounded and displaced people.

These positions are aligned with those expressed by the conference of principals of Spanish universities, and the Universitat de València has urged the European University Union to express its position in defence with the Chart of Human Rights and in demand of compliance with International Law.

In accordance with what was expressed by the International Court of Justice in its order of 26 January 2024 on the precautionary measures requested by South Africa, the Universitat de València maintains that it is imperative that Israel take immediate measures to prevent the commission of acts subject to the criminal types recorded by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and it is urgent to adopt all necessary actions for the prevention and punishment of direct and public incitement to commit genocide, as well as to promote effective measures to enable humanitarian assistance.

As the United Nations has already warned, forced population displacement cannot be sustained under international law. This is why the top priority at the moment has to be the civilian population and humanitarian aid, which cannot be limited or conditioned by the criticisms to the UNRWA, in respect of which there is an ongoing investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

Likewise, the Universitat de València expresses its concern and its rejection of the destruction of health, educational, university and research facilities in Gaza, as well as the serious effects on the education of girls, boys and young people caused by this war, as recently expressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.

As a consequence, the Senate of the Universitat de València demands,

1.º The agreement of a ceasefire in Gaza, immediate and permanent.

2.º The immediate release of all hostages and prisoners and an end to serious Human Rights violations.

3.º The start of a process of peace based on dialogue and negotiation which, with the support of the international community and the boost of the United Nations, will provide a permanent response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.