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39° CYCLE PhD STUDENTS
Elisa Gamba
Promoting the integration of humanitarian migrants in the higher education system:
overcoming the challenges of inclusion
International students entering the Italian university system represent a particular type of migration: they generally belong to an upper social class in their country of origin, they are cultured and ambitious. They are forced by social, economic, religious or political constraints to pursue their educational (and later professional) growth abroad, according to higher standards than the average migrant. Their final aim is to return to their home country and be the source of profound socio-political transformation, becoming part of a new establishment with progressive values. Under this perspective, inclusion acquires a whole new meaning: it’s the antidote to totalitarianisms, and a long-term investment on global advancement. When students are refugees or students at risk, their inclusion requires a deeper attention to various details: access to the health system, a careful psychological assistance as well as support for the management of their free time, to avoid the pressing feeling of loneliness, are just quick examples of their basic needs. The UNICORE (“University Corridors for Refugees”) programme, managed by UNHCR Italy,
represents a good representative case of inclusion, thanks to a multi-level network composed of multiple entities of different natures, both at the local and national level, and it has been taken as an example in other European countries working on the concept of education pathways. The programme started in 2019 at the University of Bologna and it now involves more than 30 Italian universities who committed to welcome refugees residing in Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to continue their higher education in Italy. UNICORE is coordinated by UNHCR Italy and supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Caritas Italiana, Diaconia Valdese, Centro Astalli and other partners.
Differently from the prevailing approach in most refugee assistance programs, UNICORE distinguishes itself by not only offering financial grants to its selected students, but also providing an array of comprehensive services and benefits. These encompass accommodation, meals, health insurance, psychological support, personalized tutoring, access to essential learning materials, the provision of laptops and, especially, the contacts of local NGOs ready to listen to these students’ needs. These multifaceted provisions collectively serve to offer tangible and substantial support to refugees, as they navigate the challenging journey towards inclusion. Following this successful model implemented in Italy, similar educational pathways have been established in Ireland and Belgium. The research will conduct a comparative analysis of these programmes, involving interviews with key stakeholders and the students benefiting from these initiatives. Starting from the different scenarios listed above, the ultimate aim of this research is to formulate a proposal for an actionable inclusion plan which should be able to scale up and
institutionalise the UNICORE example, and to be effectively implemented within the higher education institutions of Italy.
Sara Lina Kamoun
Towards a more coherent approach to Peacebuilding: Mine action paving the way for ex-combatant reintegration
There is a growing awareness among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners regarding the importance of increased coordination among numerous post-conflict peacebuilding processes and the consequent need for conceptual clarity as a precondition for coordinated, holistic peacebuilding interventions. Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR), and Mine Action are among the very first entry points in post-conflict reconstruction, however, despite sharing similarities they form part of distinct communities of practice and the nexus between the two remains widely unaddressed academically and in practice. This research proposes to address this disconnection by providing an understanding between two fundamental processes at the heart of post-conflict peacebuilding: mine action and DDR. A particular research window of opportunity is identified through the difficulties that DDR reintegration generates. In particular, this study proposes the reintegration of ex-combatants through mine action. The research suggests that DDR can only enable sustainable long-term results if it is part of a wider set of security promotion strategies with devoted attention to human security: community security which is argued to be achieved through mine action. The process of DDR includes a set of activities that form part of strategies for peacebuilding, in the same vein humanitarian mine action have increasingly been recognized as cornerstones in paving human security, livelihood, and access to vital services. The two processes are acknowledged as pillars of the international community’s commitment to post-conflict peacebuilding. In the majority of cases, soldiers of armed groups submit to DDR by handing over their weapons in return for support in the transfer to civilian life, the group is cantoned in a camp for a period after which reinsertion assistance occurs. Following this, reintegration takes place consisting of a much longer process by which the individuals find a place in their communities of reintegration. The above process can be perceived as ‘straightforward’ but the reality unveils critical difficulties to the advancement of the peacebuilding agenda. Recent criticism pertains to the limited success of the reintegration phase, compared with the fast achievement of collecting arms and demobilizing combatants, it is significantly harder to ensure effective and smooth rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants
Carlo Zanetti
Heatwaves and Climate Justice: Integrated Risk Mapping and Assessment of Mitigation and Adaptation Scenarios from a GIScience Perspective
This research project aims to investigate the urban dimension of climate justice concerning extreme events,considering not only the physical aspects but also the spatial, social, and territorial dimensions. Spatial and territorial impacts of climate change are essential for assessing inequalities related to heat stress risks, taking into account both the social dimension and the microclimatic variability across different urban
contexts. The first phase of the research involves studying the physical and climatic context of two case study cities in Europe and Latin America. Climate analysis will be conducted using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) softwares and open-source statistical tools (QGIS and R). This analysis will utilize existing databases (e.g.,WorldClim) and integrate them with future climate models at a regional scale, driven by Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios (e.g., CORDEX). Spatial climate variability will be studied using satellite images (e.g., Landsat, Sentinel) and participatory data collection employing low-cost devices to measure temperature, humidity, and air quality (e.g., Sodaq Air, MeteoTracker). Temperature maps will be validated and integrated with both qualitative and quantitative analyses and
methodologies typical of GIScience (Linking Pixel & People). On one hand, these tools will enable analysis of the territorial characteristics contributing to Urban Heat Island effect, employing geo-statistical modelling based on satellite and drone images, orthophotos, LIDAR point clouds, and geo-databases to quantify the temperature anomaly contributed by each factor (e.g., land use, building height, albedo, proximity to urban green areas and water bodies). On the other hand, Citizen Science activities will be implemented to engage citizens in data collection (e.g., perceived thermal comfort, participatory mapping of high-risk areas, temperature, humidity, and air quality data from low-cost sensors) and the development of adaptation and mitigation solutions for extreme heat events.
Microclimate analysis will provide a hazard map related to extreme temperatures in urban areas, both current and future, which will be integrated with vulnerability and exposure maps to create a comprehensive risk map. Vulnerability and exposure maps will be developed based on demographic and income databases provided by municipalities or national agencies, integrating them with health geo-databases of cardio-respiratory pathologies. The risk map will help identify priority areas for implementing adaptation strategies. Finally, ENVI-met software will be used to calculate the reduction of climate risk resulting from the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions, such as green roofs, green areas, artificial lakes, hedges, and trees.
38° CYCLE PhD STUDENTS
Ludovica Aricò
Edges of the international fight against Child Labour: Analysing asymmetries in multilevel governance
The ILO Convention on Minimum Age of 1973, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989, and the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour of 1999 are the highest point of multilevel governance’s work to tackle child labour. The flexible rigidity of these documents has ensured universal acceptance and an unprecedented global engagement.
Nevertheless, evidence shows that these instruments have not been entirely effective in the Global South. Nowadays, more than 160 million children, aged between 5 and 17, are employed in worst forms of child labour, with a major incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The weaknesses of the approach might be traced in the very founding moment of the international fight against child labour. Precisely, the research assumes that the economic interests and ideologies of Western states prevailed over those of the Global South in international debates, exploiting power asymmetries to their advantage. Therefore, the constructed approach does not entirely represent the needs of the countries with the highest incidence of child labour, proving ineffective in the long run.
This doctoral research seeks to prove that child labour persists in the Global South because Western states have derailed international debates to protect their interests and to enforce their ideologies. The analysis should highlight how power asymmetries have facilitated these dynamics. Eventually, the research might provide critical elements that might be used to rethink and to re-design the actual approach to pursue the best interest of the child.
To achieve this goal, the research will examine the evolution of international and national debates on child labour from the beginning of 1970s to the end of 1990s, through in-depth investigation at the historical archives of the most relevant intergovernmental organisations, such as the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations. This should provide a clear picture of the dynamics and a clear overview of the main aspects of the issue: the key moments of the debate, the main actors, the specific aspects around which the debate has gradually evolved (e.g. defining child labour, identifying a fair minimum age, inserting a specific conditionality in economic agreements, etc…).
Erika Iacona
Freedom of self-determination is one of the main cornerstones of Inalienable Human Rights and the Italian Constitution. Law 219/2017, inspired by these two normative horizons, applies this principle to the sphere of health and end-of-life choices.
Freedom of self-determination is one of the main cornerstones of Inalienable Human Rights and the Italian Constitution. Law 219/2017, inspired by these two normative horizons, applies this principle to the sphere of health and end-of-life choices.
The relationship between the sick person and healthcare system, decision-making autonomy, shared planning of the therapeutic plan and palliative care, and Advance Directives Treatment are some of the nodes that the law regulates.
Despite being a device aimed at extending the individual's right to sovereignty over their own body, little is known about this freedom, and the risk is that its innovative scope will be undermined.
The main critical issues for the application of the law and its dissemination, also highlighted in the literature, therefore concern:
- lack of knowledge of the law on the part of the population
- lack of knowledge of the law on the part of health professionals
- lack of doctor-patient communication on finitude
- censorship of the subject of death
My research will concern the study of how the service for Advance Directives Treatment will function within municipalities.
Together with the main actors involved in the collection of Advance Directives Treatment, I will survey the criticalities they perceive in the application of the law, the technical difficulties encountered, the requests and doubts advanced by citizens and any critical incidents, suggestions and advice to encourage awareness of the law among citizens. This to define which type of personnel can be considered suitable for the implementation of initiatives promoting the application of the law.
In this phase, the qualitative method with participant observation and action research involving participants in the pursuit of the research/intervention objectives will be used. This will be followed by thematic analysis of the observational material collected with interviews and focus groups. Continuities and discontinuities with the health service, the national database and citizenship are noted.
Finally, the activation of community death education paths for citizenship will be accomplished, thanks to the collaboration between the municipal administration and the university. These courses will aim to reduce anxiety towards death through activities that facilitate acceptance and promote understanding of death. It is also intended to find out about fears and resistance regarding the drafting of Advance Treatment Directives, the obstacles encountered in drafting them, and the perceived knowledge of the law.
The surveys will make it possible to identify the main difficulties encountered in using the device and based on that, to create suitable practices and models to help all the actors involved in the process.
Furthermore, they will make it possible to identify the most effective strategies for implementing Death Education paths that highlight how the law concerns a fundamental human right.
T. N. Anh Nguyen
Cyberviolence against women: Toward the human rights due diligence of multinational internet intermediaries. Legal feasibility of mandatory human rights due diligence evolution
Cyberviolence against women is a new dimension of gender-based violence that is deeply rooted in the inequality between women and men that persists in our society. Such violence is carried out utilising various digital technologies, most of which are operated and governed by multinational internet intermediaries or service providers. However, the fact that internet intermediaries are not treated as subjects of international law has created a loophole in the governance of human rights online. The actions (or inactions) of service providers have gone beyond the reach of international human rights law. Nevertheless, it is argued that the very nature of human rights requires that businesses be included in the human rights sphere because the realisation and materialisation of these rights also need the protection of non-state actors. The need for a binding treaty on due diligence of private actors has attracted a certain amount of research in recent years, centring around the sessions of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group. Yet scholars have not paid attention to the digital platforms and the specific characteristics of the Internet architecture in which they govern our rights. Although the need for mandatory responsibilities of internet intermediaries is emerging, its scholarly understanding is still in the early stage, with the potential to extend the research further.
This study, therefore, critically analyses how the existing regulative frameworks govern internet intermediaries in the case of cyberviolence against women vertically between international and national level of governments, and geographically between different states and regions. The policies and measures of service providers are also evaluated to examine the human rights gap, whereby the delegation of human rights enforcement to private actors undermines not only international human rights legislation, but also domestic laws and constitutions.
Following this approach, the core of the thesis is to explore how a legally binding instrument can possibly evolve to govern, in international human rights law, the due diligence of service providers regarding cyberviolence against women. The outcome will contribute to the debate about how to hold state and non-state actors accountable for finding meaningful ways to tackle all forms of violence and protect our human rights in the digital sphere.
Lamia Yasin
Identity and citizenship in a conflict-ridden and divided society: the impact of the educational system on the Israeli-Palestinian minority
This research proposal stems from the belief that the common recognition of a collective identity, citizenship, and the unconditional support to, and defense of, equal rights of all members of the national community are necessary to build a society of peace. The notion of identity is rooted and exploited in strongly divided societies and thus, is deeply connected to citizenship, whose meaning has changed throughout time and different societies. The universally recognized right to education is deemed to be one of the essential pillars of each modern society. In the majority of countries, the provision of this right is mainly delivered as a public service and is often entangled with politics: an appointment of the Ministry of Education plays a strategic role for the policies pursued by the government in office and its politics. Notably, the inclusion or exclusion of sensitive topics in educational state programs depends on the political orientation of the government and parliament majority. Additionally, governments can affect the rightful delivery of educational services through an increase or decrease of funds allocated to education. This is even more prominent in strongly divided societies where public education has a heavy weight in the political agenda and propaganda, as the case for the State of Israel. The latter is a society that faces a structural necessity to define its identity, it be it’s recognition as a Jewish or democratic state. Throughout time, the State of Israel has witnessed an increasingly marked internal division, which has evolved into a severe ethnic and religious segregation.
The conceptual framework provides a perspective on the connection between the educational system and the notion of citizenship in Israel, essential to analyse the right to education and its accessibility. On these grounds, the framed research question aims at analysing whether the school system contributes to the identity formation of the Palestinian minority in Israel. The design of this research will include qualitative and quantitative data analysis, as well as a temporal analysis, conducted through the incorporation of textual analysis as a tool to examine nationally adopted textbooks and interviews.
Isabella Valbusa
Fostering inclusive contexts: The role of human rights and inclusive skills to foster Inclusion in children
This research project aims to foster knowledge of human and children’s rights associated with inclusion and evaluate the effectiveness of a training program in school contexts. It also aims to improve social participation and quality of life in children.
As suggested by researchers such as Shogren and by internal organizations such as the United Nations, inclusion involves all children with no distinction and regards the respect of fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the Convention on the rights of the child. From here the importance of promoting inclusive skills, through the respect of human rights, as a basis for inclusive behaviours. Promoting children’s inclusive skills could affect also psychological growth not only in individualistic terms but also from a social perspective because, as suggested by scholars such as Kennedy, it could improve the social contexts of all people will involve such as parents and teachers, contributing to the building of inclusive living contexts.
Over the last decades, studies and meta-analyses have identified strategies that can result in more positive attitudes toward Inclusion, generally based on Allport's contact theory. This theory assumed that interacting with people who are perceived as different from oneself fosters positive attitudes towards them and reduces prejudices through positive social contact with others. An especially promising strategy is imagined contact. It consists in imagining a positive and successful interaction with an unknown person and it has been used to foster defensive behaviours toward social exclusion.
Based on these theoretical premises, the project aims at developing, implementing, and verifying the effectiveness of a training program to promote school inclusion in elementary and middle school students. Specifically, it aims to foster the knowledge of human and children's rights associated with Inclusion and participation in school contexts and improve inclusive skills functional to build peer relationships and friendships with others based on respect for human and children's rights. Specific activities and the strategy of imagined contact will be used to increase knowledge about human and children's rights, positive social relations between peers and overall inclusive attitudes towards others to initiate relationships of collaboration/reciprocal help and to react in the face of discrimination/social exclusion and in situations where human rights, and especially children's ones, are violated.
Designing and evaluating the effectiveness of this training program could be relevant for the training of teachers that could implement this intervention program in the future to foster inclusion and attention to human rights. In summary, this study could favour a complex idea of inclusion that provides for the involvement of everyone and more social consciousness of human rights and inclusion to get out of an individualistic perspective and thinking from a social point of view for a better quality of life for all.
