Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Carlotta Lombardini wins the seventh edition of the Andrea Gilioli Graduation Prize

Australian migration policies, maritime border control and the international protection of asylum seekers’ rights are at the heart of the dissertation that earned Carlotta Lombardini, a Law graduate from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMORE), the seventh edition of the Andrea Gilioli Graduation Prize. The award is promoted by UniMORE’s Department of Law in collaboration with the Amici per Sempre di Andrea Gilioli Association.

The prize was established to keep alive the memory of Andrea Gilioli, a young graduate of the University who died prematurely in 2018. Through an initiative organised jointly by the Association named in his honour and the Department of Law, it supports academic excellence and recognises the achievements of the next generation of graduates. Born in Sassuolo in 1992, Andrea attended the Tassoni Scientific Upper Secondary School in Modena before graduating with distinction in Law from UniMORE, with a dissertation in administrative law. A journalist, he contributed to La Gazzetta di Modena and Sassuolo Oggi and founded Breezy Production. Following his sudden death, the Amici per Sempre di Andrea Gilioli Association has continued to promote his interests and passions through cultural and educational initiatives, guided by the motto that accompanied him: per aspera ad astra (through hardships to the stars).

Now in its seventh edition, the prize is open to graduates holding a master's degree in Law from UniMORE who have achieved outstanding academic results, with particular emphasis on the quality of their dissertations and their ability to explore legal issues of contemporary relevance in depth.

The winning dissertation, entitled "Australian Migration Policy and International Law", traces the development of Australian immigration policies, from maritime interception operations to the mandatory detention of asylum seekers. The research examines the legal implications of pushbacks and the use of offshore detention centres, comparing Australian legislative and administrative approaches with the principles of the law of the sea, refugee law and the international protection of human rights. Particular attention is paid to recent Australian case law and to the tensions between states’ sovereign powers to control their borders and their obligations under international conventions.

Carlotta Lombardini, who completed her master's degree in Law in the 2023/2024 academic year, produced a dissertation that the Scientific Committee described as "an original and wide-ranging piece of research". The Committee praised her command of the relevant sources, the breadth of her international bibliography and her ability to navigate a complex legal framework. The award citation highlights the dissertation’s ability to combine in-depth legal analysis with an awareness of the human consequences of migration policies, addressing a particularly sensitive issue with clarity, balance and critical insight.

The award ceremony took place this morning, Thursday 29 October, in the Council Chamber of UniMORE’s Department of Law, in the presence of the winner and members of the Scientific Committee. Speakers included Professor Giovanna Laura De Fazio, Head of the Department of Law; Professor Carmelo Elio Tavilla, Delegate of the Rector; Maria Cristina Vaccari, a lawyer practising in Modena; and Giovanna Maria Venturelli, President of the Amici per Sempre di Andrea Gilioli Association.

"Andrea Gilioli left our Department with the memory of a brilliant and inquisitive young man, deeply committed to the study of law and already pursuing a career in journalism. Eight years after his death, we are particularly pleased to continue honouring his memory through an award born of the affection of those who knew him and the dedication of the Amici per Sempre Association, with which our Department has built a valuable partnership over the years," says Professor Giovanna Laura De Fazio, Head of UniMORE’s Department of Law. "Dedicating an award to Andrea that recognises young graduates allows us to carry his legacy forward and pass on his memory to new generations of students. Carlotta Lombardini’s dissertation, with its focus on the relationship between state decisions and the protection of people's fundamental rights, demonstrates the value of a legal education that engages with international issues and their human implications. I would like to congratulate her on behalf of the Department and thank the Association and everyone whose commitment makes this initiative possible."

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng