Dipartimento di Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale
Via Bicocca degli Arcimboldi, 8 – 20126 Milano
21–22 September 2026
Implementing the Istanbul Convention
after the EU’s Accession in the Academic System.
Backlash, Gaps and Institutional Responsibility
A Pan-European Conference
Conference Description
What has really changed in European universities since the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention? This second pan-European conference – following the 2023 edition and organised by UN.I.RE. with OCEAN (Council of Europe) – puts this question at the centre of a critical and timely debate.
Across two days, participants will confront the gap between commitments and reality. Day 1 brings together a European audience to tackle implementation failures, institutional responsibility and growing backlash. Day 2 focuses on the Italian context, examining concrete policies and practices.
The conference is meant as a working space. Through expert-led, critical debate and interactive groups, participants are expected to actively contribute, share experiences and challenge existing approaches.
The aim is to move towards a concrete outcome: the development of a shared European Code of Conduct for universities, strengthening accountability and driving real structural change.
-> View the Conference Sessions
How We Built The Programme
In designing the conference programme, we chose to extend the main invitation to speakers holding institutional or representative roles, in the belief that bringing these roles into dialogue was the necessary starting point for discussing accountability and implementation at both European and national level.
To ensure this criterion did not become a form of exclusion, and in the interest of transparency and the widest possible participation, we have complemented the speakers’ programme with a series of open working groups, to which anyone can propose a contribution by completing the Google Form, as below. Contributions from the working groups will feed directly into the conclusions of each day.
The conference is free of charge and open to anyone interested.
Everyone is welcome to attend until capacity is reached.
Participation in the conference requires prior registration through the Google Form available at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2MJQlkarIzfhlx_E7mZcFwTE0jA0_OEu10WqGn1hgZmLjYg/viewform?usp=header
The conference is funded by the Lombardy Region – Directorate-General for Family, Social Solidarity, Disability and Equal Opportunities, under the call for proposals “Promotion of projects and/or training programmes within the Lombardy university system on the prevention of and combatting male violence against women, Academic Year 2025–2026,” implemented in accordance with Regional Government Resolutions No. XII/4555/2025 and No. XII/4591/2025.
For information: unire-academicnetwork@unimib.it
- Webpage: https://unire.unimib.it/
Organisation Committee – University of Milano-Bicocca: Daniela Belliti, Marina Calloni, Giorgia Serughetti, Sveva Magaraggia
UN.I.RE. Scientific Committee: Daniela Belliti (coordinator), Giussy Barbara, Francesca Brezzi, Marina Calloni (director), Maria Elisa D’Amico, Maria Dolores Ferrara, Alessandra Kustermann, Isabella Loiodice, Lisa Marchi, Luca Milani, Michele Nicoletti, Mariella Nocenzi, Irene Pellizzone, Alessandra Pietrobon, Patrizia Romito, Giorgia Serughetti (coordinator), Giovanna Vingelli.
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