Sapienza narrows down research with non-EU countries where human rights are at risk

Today, the Academic Senate, the Board of Directors and the College of Department Directors of La Sapienza University in a joint session unanimously approved the integration of the "Guidelines on the compliance of research activities on dual-use topics in the context of collaborations outside the European Union". With this measure, the Roman University strengthens internal measures to guarantee the ethics and integrity of scientific research and introduces more stringent procedures, with specific provisions for non-EU countries at risk for human rights, such as Israel and Russia, with reference to potentially dual-use research.

"The protection of human rights and respect for the freedom, ethics and integrity of research are identity values of our Community, on which we have been working since the very first months of my term as rector, establishing the Ethics Committee for Transdisciplinary Research,' explains rector Antonella Polimeni, 'and, in 2024, the Panel of Experts on Dual Use issues. Today, with these new measures, we are taking a further step towards research that is increasingly attentive to its potential impact on society, introducing the figure of a specific Departmental Contact Person for dual-use research compliance and defining a stringent procedure that can also result in the rejection of the request.

The measure also addresses potential risks and critical issues concerning research contracts commissioned by non-EU countries on potentially dual-use topics involving private entities. In light of the current international situation, the list of countries at risk for human rights includes, among others, Israel, due to the treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories, military operations in Gaza and the violation of international humanitarian law in these contexts; and the Russian Federation, due to increasing restrictions on civil liberties, internal repression of political dissent, military actions in Ukraine and allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in conflict contexts.