The case of the ‘Weekend Snipers’ in Sarajevo and violence as a consumable practice
Reflecting on the Commodification of Violence: The Case of the ‘Weekend Snipers’.
detailViolence and security in the favelas of Rio De Janeiro: between failed policies and “bare life”
In Rio de Janeiro, a comprehensive reform of public security and law enforcement is urgently required, one that enables authorities to operate without resorting to militarized strategies, which, as demonstrated over the years, have consistently proven ineffective for both the safety of police officers and the civilian population of the favelas. Drawing on an analysis of the large-scale police operation carried out on October 28, 2025, in the Latin American metropolis, this article aims to offer a critical reflection on intervention strategies in areas controlled by armed groups, highlighting their limitations, social impacts, and the need for structural reform.
detailTwenty-Five Years On: The European Society of Criminology at a Crossroads Between Past and Future
From 3 to 6 September 2023, the 25th Conference of the European Society of Criminology took place in Athens, bringing together over 2,300 participants. While it was expected to be a celebration of the Society’s twenty-fifth anniversary, it was instead marked by dissatisfaction and tension, prompting deeper questions about the association’s representativeness, its democratic standards, and its ability to renew itself by giving voice to the new generations of criminologists.
detailPreventing Violence Against Women Between Compulsory Health Assessments and Public Shaming
The two central components of the Italian Bill 1517 reveal a profound sense of collective disorientation in the face of male violence against women. The legislative response appears to be an expressive and performative one, oscillating between preventive medical punishment and public shaming—offering little room for the layered, nuanced approaches that this deeply sensitive area of intervention requires.
detailThe Invisible Side of Violence: The Challenges of International Investigations in the Digital Age
The update presented on 17 June 2025 by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan highlights the growing use of digital technologies in the investigation of mass atrocities. However, the complexity of conflict contexts, the spread of disinformation, and the inaccessibility of certain areas raise concerns about the "dark figure" of violations that go undocumented.
detailSocial media as a space for (de)humanizing the Palestinian people
Referring to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the text offers a reflection on the role of social media as spaces for discursive resistance, emphasizing their power to counter dominant dehumanizing narratives and to give back visibility, voice, and dignity to those systematically marginalized by official representations of the conflict.
detailRacial Profiling and Police: the Council of Europe’s call as an opportunity not to be missed
In response to the request from the President of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe to conduct an independent study on racial profiling in police activities in Italy, this paper provides a critical reflection on the concepts of institutional racism, racial profiling, and the role of the police, employing the notion of the threshold of acceptance of racism as its interpretative framework. Moreover, the paper underscores the urgent need to initiate research in Italy on police stops and checks targeting ethnic minorities, thereby addressing the call issued by the Council of Europe.
detailA Reassessment of the De Maria Case Through the Lens of Fiduciary Principles
Starting from the case of Emanuele De Maria, which has been the subject of much public debate in recent days, the text invites reflection on the fact that, while encouraging data on successful releases cannot "heal" the pain of victims and their families, they nonetheless clearly highlight that any reform of the penitentiary system must be grounded in a framework of trust.
detailPreventing Mass Atrocities: Reflections in Light of the International Day of the Rwandan Genocide
On the occasion of the International Day of Reflection on the Rwandan Genocide, the text reflects on the limitations of international law and measures to prevent similar atrocities.
detailThe limits of criminal law in addressing femicide
Building on the recent bill proposing the introduction of femicide as a criminal offense in the Italian Penal Code, we explore the implications of punitive feminism, inviting reflection on the need to adopt transformative perspectives to prevent and combat gender-based violence.
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