Academic Senate: A Motion of Solidarity with the Ukrainian People
11.03.2022
The Academic Senate brings attention to the dramatic actions of war affecting Ukraine, which are actions that strike the heart of Europe and bring to question the universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality, and solidarity on which the European Union is founded.
Actions of war constitute a violation of the principles and norms enshrined in international law and the Charter of the United Nations recognized as binding between nations. Based on the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all its Members who shall refrain the threat and use of force for the resolution of international disputes, respect human rights, ensure the rights of minorities and the right of self-determination, these actions evoke the threat of a global conflict after eighty years.
The European Union is the greatest peace project that Europe has ever seen. No process of political or military enlargement can take place at the expense of life and peace. The Lisbon Treaty expressly states that the Union promotes multilateral solutions to common problems within the United Nations to preserve peace, prevent conflicts and strengthen international security, under the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter (Art. 21).
Article 11 of the Italian constitution states,
Italy rejects war as an instrument of aggression against the freedom of other peoples and as a means for the settlement of international disputes. Italy 6 agrees, on conditions of equality with other States, to the limitations of sovereignty that may be necessary to a world order ensuring peace and justice among the Nations. Italy promotes and encourages international organisations furthering such ends.”
Our University shares the same values. Thanks to a tradition dating as far back as 1222 and underscoring our motto Universa Universis Patavina Libertas, the University declares that its diverse character and independence remains free from the conditioning and discrimination of ideological, religious, political, or economic nature. Defined by its respect for the freedom of thought and science, we implore the community to respect, protect, and promote a culture founded on the universal values of human rights, peace, environmental protection, and international solidarity.
The escalation of violence witnessed these days calls for a strong stance and firm condemnation of any form of aggression between states and violations of human rights, not only by political institutions but also by the academic world and of the entire scientific community.
Active nonviolence practiced with determination and consistency is the fundamental tool for building peace.
The UN General Assembly, on March 2, 2022, approved a resolution that contains a universal condemnation of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and urges the immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine through dialogue political, negotiation, mediation, and other peaceful means.
Minister Maria Cristina Messa of the Ministry of University and Research is in constant contact with the other Departments and Bodies. Most notably, she remains updated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Defence as reported in a note she signed on February 27. The constant monitoring of the situation to guarantee support for the Ukrainian people Italian universities offer to host Ukrainian students, researchers, and professors by making scholarships and accommodation available.
The Minister requests Italian universities and research bodies to report any projects underway with Russian institutions and bodies that have potential implications. As part of the sanctions adopted by the European Union against the Russian Federation to avoid the possibility that legitimate collaborations in the research sectors could provide involuntary support to Russian military action, known as the development or transfer of so-called "dual-use" technologies.
Accepting the Minister's request without hesitation, the University of Padua joins the appeal made by other institutions with the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI) and the connected Network of Universities for Peace to express its profound solidarity with the Ukrainian people. We stand united against the unspeakable suffering and the consequences that this tragic event causes on the daily life of the entire nation.
The University of Padua is convinced that only with the immediate suspension of military operations and imminent violations and the return of political-diplomatic talks it is possible to face the complexity of the conflict in progress and promote peaceful solutions based on internationally recognized human rights.
For the above reasons, the Academic Senate of the University of Padua states:
1. Strongly and unreservedly condemns armed conflict and the use of violence, claiming the value of diplomacy and dialogue as the only means for a peaceful and effective resolution of disputes between states
2. Knowingly understand that our security depends on an effective and democratic multilateral system and that the fundamental framework in which international relations are placed within the United Nations Charter. We affirm the urgency of guaranteeing a world order based on law and international democracy.
3. Acknowledge that there is a close connection between the strengthening of international security, disarmament, respect for human rights, and sustainable development. We express solidarity and closeness to the Ukrainian academic community and the Russian and Belarusian academic communities dissenting towards the governments of their own Countries, affirming the universal value independent of any form of conditioning of culture and science.
4. To adhere and follow the appeals of the Minister of University and Research and undertakes to offer concrete support and hospitality to Ukrainian students, researchers, and professors and to collaborate with the Ministry in reporting and suspending any ongoing projects with institutions and bodies that may unwittingly favour Russian military action.
