The College community is once again by the Regeni family’s side in demanding truth and justice on the seventh anniversary of Giulio’s abduction and murder in Egypt. On the evening of Janury 25th, a delegation of College students and staff participated in the events organised in Giulio’s home town, Fiumicello, marching silently in the streets near Giulio’s home and taking part in the gathering at the local theatre. The event was attended by a huge crowd of local people as well as several guests from around the country, and was broadcast live on the streaming channel of La Repubblica, one of the main newspapers it Italy. Throughout the evening, the sense of purpose and community among participants was tangible. Meanwhile, in Duino, college students and teachers gathered in the Auditorium to light seven yellow candles at 7:41 pm , reading poems by the scottish poet Tom Leonard (“Being a Human Being”), and by the Pakistani-born British poet Imtiaz Dharker (“Say His Name”).
On the following day Alessandra Ballerini, the lawyer defending the Regenis, spoke to the whole college community about the defence of human rights. She illustrated the legal framework that supports human rights defenders as well as the sense of humanity shared by all who choose to stand on the side of human rights victims with their actions and words.
In referring to the EU Directive 29/2012 for the ‘Better protection for victims in criminal proceedings’ she commented:
