On 20 February 2026, PhD candidates Ludovica Aricò, Anh Nguyen Thi Ngoc, and Isabella Valbusa from the PhD Programme in Human Rights, Society, and Multi-level Governance successfully defended their doctoral theses at the headquarters of the Human Rights Centre "Antonio Papisca", located at Polo Beato Pellegrino, University of Padova.

Dr Ludovica Aricò defended her thesis entitled “Constructing a Core Labour Standard: The ILO, Child Labour, and the Conventions of 1997 and 1999”, under the supervision of Professor Lorenzo Mechi. Her research examined the historical development of international labour standards on child labour and analysed the role of the International Labour Organization within the broader human rights framework. The examination committee was composed of Professor Sandrine Kott, University of Geneva;  Professor Daniel Roger Maul, University of Oslo, and Professor Maria Anna Donati, University of Florence.

Dr Anh Nguyen Thi Ngoc defended her dissertation entitled “The Challenges of a Rights-Based Platform Governance through the Lens of Cyberviolence against Women”, supervised by Professor Paolo De Stefani and Professor Paola Degani. Her research investigates how online platforms exercise governance power over digital spaces and critically assesses the limits of existing European regulatory frameworks in addressing structural and gender-based forms of online harm.

Dr Isabella Valbusa, supervised by Professor Maria Cristina Ginevra, presented her thesis “Fostering inclusive contexts: The role of human rights and inclusive social skills to foster Inclusion in children”. Her research addresses the growing diversity of contemporary school environments, where differences in ethnicity, socio-economic background, and abilities may give rise to discrimination, marginalisation, and social exclusion, undermining children’s participatory rights. 

Their thesis defence, took place in front of the examination committee composed by Professor Elena Pariotti, University of Padova; Professor Maria Anna Donati, University of Florence, and, Professor Andrea Zammitti, University of Catania.

With the successful defence of their dissertations, Dr Aricò, Dr Nguyen Thi Ngoc, and Dr Valbusa have been awarded their PhDs in Human Rights, Society, and Multi-level Governance. The Human Rights Centre "Antonio Papisca" extends its warmest congratulations to the new doctors and wishes them continued success in their future academic and professional endeavours.

This achievement represents the culmination of years of sustained research and commitment, while also underscoring the University of Padova’s dedication to fostering excellence and innovation in human rights scholarship.