Xiaohongshu
Students’ Union UCL is committed to empowering and supporting our clubs and societies to organise events with a variety of speakers that stimulate debate and further the non-academic development of our members. We facilitate events where speakers can express their views, while also creating a safe space where differing, challenging and antithetical views can also be expressed. You can read more about our external speaker process here.
Freedom of Speech is enshrined in both Students' Union UCL's Memorandum & Articles of Association, Byelaws and in the UCL Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech. Our Parent institution is bound by the 2023 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, which places a direct obligation on universities to ‘take reasonably practicable steps to secure free speech within the law for their students, staff and members and for visiting speakers’. Furthermore, the Human Rights Act 1998 Articles 9, 20 and 11 enshrine the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association.
There are limitations on our commitment to freedom of speech, as set out by UK law, that protect individuals and groups from intimidation and discrimination, and that prohibit the incitement of a crime. Students’ Union UCL is bound by a number of different statutes and regulations and must always ensure that freedom of speech is maintained within this legal framework. To maintain our duty of care for the health and safety of all staff, students and visitors, we will not allow:
- Unlawful direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
- Communication which is threatening, abusive or insulting, or intended to harass, alarm or distress.
- Communication which targets a person or group of people based on their skin colour, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender (sexual or defined), age, disability, marriage or civil partnership.
- Communication which could reasonably be perceived to encourage unlawful action or glorify the unlawful actions of a group or organisation.
All external speakers invited to speak at Students’ Union UCL must also comply with UK counter-terrorism law. This is regardless of any debate over terrorism legislation, the basis of proscription, or of an organisation or individual being labelled as terrorist. This means speakers cannot:
- Speak at a Union event if they are a member of or profess to be a member of a proscribed organisation.
- Make any statement at a Union event which may encourage terrorism or support a proscribed organisation (including expressing their own support for a proscribed organisation), or the furtherance of a proscribed organisation’s activities.