Background: Statement from the Global Alliance on Community-Engaged Research

We acknowledge the significant progress that humanity has made since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948, and all other subsequent enactments. This Declaration sets forth the universality of certain fundamental human rights; The rights to education, freedom of association and speech, and the right to participate in the life of the community are inherent to the rights of life with dignity.

We declare, therefore, that the right to learn, the right to know, the right to produce knowledge, and the right to access knowledge are inalienable rights for all.

We acknowledge the significance of science, research and knowledge being produced in a community-engaged manner, such that the fruits of such knowledge are available, usable and beneficial to those communities and their civil society organizations and movements. We are particularly mindful of families and communities that are excluded or marginalized in our societies.

We underscore the vast treasures of indigenous knowledge in all societies, and the associated processes of their transmission orally across generations. We recognize that knowledge has been stored in books, digitally and through cultures of dance, music, arts and dialogues.

We respect the knowledge-creation work of scientists, educators, activists, intellectuals, students, civil society organizations, and mother-tongue scholars.

We believe that now is the time to mobilize ourselves globally. Together, we are all part of building a global alliance.

Our purpose is to add value to actions across disciplines and community aspirations worldwide by:

• sharing effective practices in strengthening engagement of communities
• creating and mobilizing knowledge for human betterment
• supporting communities and groups to create healthier societies and environment
• developing new generations of community engaged scholars and community based researchers
• measuring collectively the impact of our work in our community and world
• advocating for enhanced policy and resource support

We value inclusion, integrity, commitment and freedom, and recognize that all peoples in the world are enjoined in the creation of knowledge.

We call you to action – Share the dream!