Hearing at the Chamber of Deputies with RUniPace Coordinators Marco Mascia and Enza Pellecchia
June 24th, 2024
As part of the inquiry into Italy’s commitment to promoting human rights, the coordinators of the Italian Network of Universities for Peace (RUniPace), Marco Mascia and Enza Pellecchia, emphasized the importance of an interdisciplinary approach and the role of public education in addressing the challenges related to peace.
Professor Mascia denounced the global regression of human rights, exacerbated by wars, military spending, and democratic crises, calling for a stronger Italian commitment at the international level to human rights protection, multilateralism, and engagement with UN and European institutions. He also stressed the urgency of supporting NGOs, establishing a National Human Rights Commission in Italy, strengthening the Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court, halting arms sales, and investing in peace education.
Professor Pellecchia highlighted the contribution of universities, citing initiatives of the Italian Network of Universities for Peace, such as the new National PhD in Peace Studies, the first of its kind in Italy, with the University of Milan as a sponsoring institution. She also underscored the role of university humanitarian corridors and the importance of working on issues such as nuclear disarmament.
The meeting concluded with hopes for ongoing collaboration between Parliament, universities, and civil society to promote knowledge as a foundation for building peace.