SAR Italy 

SAR Sections are groups of higher education institutions and associations operating in a given national territory, and that actively collaborate towards the protection of at-risk scholars and of academic freedom. This is achieved through: 

• the development of protection strategies in host universities, including the identification and activation of different types of collaboration (scholarships/research contracts, etc.) and integration of endangered scholars, enabling them to resume their scientific activity. The national sections facilitate the exchange of good practices and the sharing of difficulties inherent to forms of scientific protection. They also facilitate dialogue with national and regional institutions/organizations in order to increase the resources needed to make the protection projects adopted by individual members sustainable;
• the development of communication channels with other national sections in Europe, US and Canada in order to promote protection, advocacy and learning activities related to academic freedom. National sections and universities can foster relationships with local or international associations, for instance with Council for At-Risk Academics - CARA (UK), Scholar Rescue Fund (US), the New University in Exile Consortium (US), Threatened Scholars Integration Initiative (OSUN-TSI) . 

 Therefore, the membership with a national section facilitates the engagement of the single university at both national and international levels. In detail, this participation allows to:

1. Work together to inform the academic community, political institutions and civil society on violations of university autonomy and academic freedom overall around the world. This activity can be pursued through conferences, seminars, or summer/winter schools.
2. Organize fundraising events in order to activate scholarships dedicated to at-risk scholars.
3. Join international monitoring projects on academic freedom or initiatives for the development of hosting strategies at the European level. For example, see the project Inspire Europe. 
4. Promote learning activities aimed at developing specific competencies within the universities on hosting at-risk scholars and favouring their integration within the hosting community, also involving students.

The Italian section of Scholars at Risk was officially launched on the 19 February 2019, under the initiative of the University of Padova and the University of Trento. During that occasion, the first National Assembly was also held with 14 member universities. Scholars at Risk - Italy counts 40 members, which include Italian higher education institutions, research centres and scientific associations. In constituting SAR Italy, the governance of member institutions, as well as researchers, educators, students and administrative personnel sends a strong message of solidarity to scholars and institutions that experience situations whereby academic freedom is at stake, and research, educational and ‘third mission’ activities are constrained. SAR Italy founding principles reaffirm the importance of freedom of research, teaching and learning, as well as of university’s institutional autonomy as fundamental principles, not only for the academic community, but also for the whole civil society. In particular, SAR Italy principles refer to:

• Art. 33.1, of the Italian Constitution, where the freedom of Arts and Science and the freedom of their teaching are recognized;
• Art. 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which states “The arts and scientific research shall be free of constraint. Academic freedom shall be respected”;
• Art. 15.3, of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), which states that “The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to respect the freedom indispensable for scientific research and creative activity.”

SAR Italy is organized around a coordination and a steering committee.

Coordination (2019-2021; 2021-2023)
University of Trento and University of Padova.

Coordination (2023-2025)
University of Turin and Scuola Superiore of Catania.

Board members (2023-2025)
University of Turin, University of Catania, University of Bologna, University of Cagliari, University of Pavia, University of Verona, University of Rome 'La Sapienza'.

SAR Italy members
Visit SAR Italy's webpage for updates on SAR Italy membership. Since 2023, the Bruno Kessler Foundation - FBK has also joined the national network.

During the 2019 National Assembly (Trento, 11 December) and the 2021 Assembly (online, 8 March), six working groups were established to concretely address specific activities and to involve SAR members other than those in the steering committee. Members of the steering committee are involved in each of the working groups:

1. WG - Hosting
   Coordinated by Carla Savastano (University of Trieste). Mandate: Hosting and protection of at-risk scholars and development of activities aimed at increasing their inclusion within the academic community and the hosting society.
2. WG - Outreach, lobbying and fundraising
   Coordinated by Ester Gallo (University of Trento). Mandate: Building and reinforcing relationships with public institutions, no profit organizations and private institutions at local, regional, national and international levels. 
3. WG - Advocacy
   Coordinated by Claudia Padovani e Francesca Helm (University of Padova). Mandate: advocacy initiatives in order to promote and protect academic freedom, also with regards to concrete situations involving scholars and/or students.
4. WG - Learning and Events
   Coordinated by Lorenzo Bosi (Scuola Normale Superiore). Mandate: Organizing public events, debates and learning initiatives as a national section, in particular: annual conference, Autumn Speaker Series, round tables and thematic seminars.
5. WG - Research
   Coordinated by Barbara Gagliardi (University of Torino) e Amos Bertolacci (Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca). Mandate: promoting a scientific and interdisciplinary discussion on academic freedom.
6. WG - Communication (not defined).

List of members of the national board

At a national level, since 2018 several Universities have hosted scholars thanks to temporary protection programs. These Universities are: University of Padova (info), Scuola Normale Superiore (info), University of Milano Statale, Scuola Sant’Anna di Pisa and University of Roma ‘La Sapienza’. Based on these experiences - and thanks to the working group “WG Hosting and Support” coordinated by Carla Savastano from the University of Trieste - SAR Italy elaborated a Hosting Vademecum. The document aims at providing useful guidelines in order to facilitate the inclusion of scholars selected for protection programs. The Vademecum (in Italian) is available upon request.

Contact

Co-ordinators of SAR Italy

Ester Gallo
Università di Trento
Delegate for Academic and International Solidarity; Scholars at Risk – Italy Co-coordinator and member of the SAR International Advisory Committee. 
Department of Sociology and Social Research
Via Verdi 26 - 38122 Trento (Italia)
Email: ester.gallo [at] unitn.it
Phone: 0039 0461 281375.
Skype: ester.gallo-may

Roberta Ricucci
Dipartimento di Culture, Politica e Società
Università di Torino
Campus L. Einaudi (CLE) - Torino
Ufficio - 3D424
Email: roberta.ricucci [at] unito.it
Telefono: 0039 011 6702661

Giuseppe Angilella
Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia dell'Università di Catania
Docente Tutor presso la Scuola Superiore di Catania
Ufficio: DFA 233
Email: giuseppe.angilella [at] ct.infn.it
Telefono: 0039 095 378 5305

Adriana Di Stefano
Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza
Università di Catania
Ufficio: Via Crociferi, 81 - 1° piano
Email: adriana.distefano [at] unict.it
Telefono: 0039 095 230465