by InTrieste
Ten years after the death of the Italian researcher Giulio Regeni, the University of Trieste has joined a nationwide initiative aimed at reaffirming the principles of academic freedom and the protection of scholars working abroad.
On May 27, the university will host a screening of the documentary “Giulio Regeni – Tutto il male del mondo,” followed by a public discussion at its main campus. The event is part of “Le Università per Giulio Regeni,” a program promoted by the Italian senator for life and scientist Elena Cattaneo. The initiative brings together 76 universities across Italy for a series of screenings, debates, and public conversations expected to involve more than 15,000 participants over two months.
Presented this week at the Italian Senate, the program includes contributions from Regeni’s parents, Paola Deffendi and Claudio Regeni, along with legal representatives and the filmmakers behind the documentary. The events are scheduled to take place throughout April and May, engaging students, researchers, and the broader public in discussions on the risks faced by academics and the importance of safeguarding independent research.
At the University of Trieste, the May 27 program will open with remarks from the rector, Donata Vianelli, and student representatives, before the film screening and a roundtable discussion. Participants are expected to include Regeni’s parents, as well as university officials and early-career researchers, in a conversation centered on international mobility and academic safety.
In a statement, Vianelli described Regeni as a symbol of the freedom of research and said the university’s participation reflects an ongoing commitment to seeking truth and accountability in his case. She also noted that the circumstances of Regeni’s death contributed to the development of national guidelines aimed at improving the safety of researchers working in geopolitically sensitive areas.
Regeni, a doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge, disappeared in Cairo in 2016 and was later found dead. His case has drawn sustained international attention, with his family and supporters continuing to call for justice.
Cattaneo, who has been among the initiative’s leading voices, said the movement demonstrates how Regeni’s legacy endures through a broad network of institutions and individuals committed to defending academic freedom. His parents, in a joint statement, emphasized the importance of protecting students and researchers, adding that the documentary portrays both Regeni’s integrity as a scholar and the violations of rights surrounding his death.
