To: IEEE Director of Corporate Communications

Web version of an Open Letter to IEEE on Sanctions Against Residents of Burma, Cuba, Iran, Libya and Sudan, issued on 25th March 2002 by SGR

Scientists for Global Responsibility (*) notes with concern a report (http://www.ieeesanctions.org) that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has announced that, under new USA government restrictions, it can no longer provide full membership privileges for residents of Burma, Cuba, Iran, Libya, and Sudan or support activities in these countries.

We understand that this means that:

• IEEE Sections, Chapters, Student Branches, and Affinity Groups in these countries cannot hold meetings or organize activities under the name of IEEE, or use the IEEE logo to advertise or promote activities, or issue or receive any IEEE awards
• IEEE cannot supply any funds to support the operation of the Sections, Chapters, Affinity Groups, or Student Branches in these countries, or reimburse any student or volunteer expenses, or support any programs or conferences in those countries.

The IEEE decision appears to be in contradiction to the Institute's own Bylaw I-104, which states that admission to membership shall not be affected by race, religion, nationality, or sex of the applicant. Nor does the decision conform to the Institute's Code of Ethics, which commits IEEE to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin.

We draw attention especially to the severe negative effects which the sanctions have upon students in the affected countries. Many of these students already work under adverse conditions and they need and deserve help, not further blows. We can see no just reason for applying so blunt an instrument as these sanctions.

SGR, as an organisation committed to promoting ethical science and technology, applauds IEEE's commitment, in its Code of Ethics, to "...treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin." We hope that IEEE will vigorously pursue efforts to bring its practice back into consonance with the Code and we offer our support for such efforts.

Yours sincerely

Dr Stuart Parkinson, Chair SGR

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