On Monday, 2nd May, the inaugural ceremony for the 1st course on Humanitarian Law was held at the Aula Magna of the Department of Law at the University of Ferrara.
The event, which is part of the educational collaboration agreement, finalised on 17 June 2010, was co-chaired by the Rector of the University, Prof. Pasquale Nappi, and the Commander of the COA Operations Preparation Department, Air Brigadier General Paolo Mazzi, in the presence of the highest military and civil authorities of Ferrara, including the Prefect of the city, Dr. Provvidenza Raimondo.
During his opening speech, Professor Nappi highlighted the importance of this activity, which testifies to and strengthens the relationship between the two institutions, founded on mutual and constructive collaboration, which has in fact been underway for several years. General Mazzi, bringing greetings from the Commander of the COA, Air Chief Marshal Mario Renzo Ottone, emphasised the importance of the joint study and research activity that involves, at extremely low cost, two important institutions, with the aim of improving staff training in a subject of study that is highly relevant in light of recent international events.
A collaboration that began as early as February 2005 with the organisation of a joint study seminar on ’International Law and National Air Defence' and subsequently continued with the organisation of three joint experimental courses on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
The two-week course will be led by Professor Salerno, a professor of International Law at the university's Law Faculty, but will also feature eminent external international scholars and military experts from the Air Force, including Colonel Roberto Scirocco, Head of the Legal Affairs Office of the COA. In addition to university students, the course will be attended by numerous military and civilian personnel from the Ministry of Defence, from all over Italy, which confirms how the educational collaboration between the two institutions has already achieved a first concrete result: interest in the subject combined with a particularly appreciated theoretical-practical teaching approach.
Among the new features, compared to previous editions, besides the module concentrated into two weeks, there is also the location of the lessons, which will take place not only at the university but, in the second week, also at the COA headquarters, where simulations and practical exercises will be developed in which all course participants will actively take part.
This activity therefore consolidates an important and fruitful collaboration between the COA and the University of Ferrara with the aim of expanding knowledge in the field and, at the same time, fostering the development of further study and research initiatives, as well as the dissemination of mutual experiences, in the various scientific sectors of common interest.
