ASAP Italy is the latest ASAP chapter to hold a public launch event. There are now twelve chapters under development in the ASAP network: Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Oceania, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, and West Africa.

ASAP Italy launched on May 9-10 in Rome at LUISS University, in collaboration with the Schools of Law and Political Science. The event aimed to bring together both academics and practitioners and to spark a debate over what should be the priorities of the new chapter.

Participants in the meeting identified some early priorities for the new chapters, including encouraging research at the intersection of global justice theory and inequality studies, as well as establishing a global health research hub within ASAP Italy. Participants were also interested in initiating projects related to sustainability and human rights.

Teaching is meant to be a major priority for the new group. One idea that came up in the brainstorming session was to create an interdisciplinary MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) on poverty alleviation in order to offer students a wider perspective on poverty. The MOOC would draw on work from economics, political science, and law.

To get involved with ASAP Italy, contact chapter co-organizers Mario Ascolese and Maria Ginevra Cattaneo at mario.ascolese@gmail.com and mariagc@gmail.com.

The launch event for ASAP’s Italian chapter will take place on May 9-10, 2014 at LUISS Guido Carli.

On May 9, there will be two side events on the themes of Responsibility for the realization of human rights, featuring LUISS Professors Nuzzo, Punzi, and Maffettone and Dr. Francesca Orlando, and Are we violating violating the human rights of the world’s poor?, a research seminar at the School of Political Science with two discussants.

On May 10, the official launch will take place, with presentations by Thomas Pogge, Sebastiano Maffetoni, and Antonio Punzi.

Mario Ascolese and Maria Ginevra of the ASAP Italy Organizing Committee will close the event by leading an open discussion of possible future projects for ASAP Italy.