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Panoramica e obiettivi
About the project
Enhancing the autonomy of vulnerable adults in legal matters is a PRIN (Progetto di Ricerca di rilevante Interesse Nazionale / Research Project of significant National Interest) – call 2022 and is funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU and the Italian Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca.
The project stresses the need to ensure and promote autonomy and self-determination of vulnerable adults (adults who, by reason of an impairment or insufficiency of their personal faculties, are not in a position to protect their interests) in legal matters, in line with the principles proclaimed by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
This emphasizes both the need to respect their dignity and recognize legal capacity on an equal basis with others in all aspects of life.
Aims
The project Enhancing the autonomy of vulnerable adults in legal matters pursues the aim of modernizing legal tools concerning the legal status of vulnerable adults, especially vis a vis the rapid aging of society, and identifying innovate legal solutions that enhance the autonomy of vulnerable adults in judicial and extra-judicial proceedings, while at the same time ensuring their protection.
In particular, the Italian legal system currently achieves the protection of vulnerable adults essentially through the judical appointment of a legal representative charged with acting on behalf of (or assisting) the protected person in the performance of all or some acts, while awarding very limited means of supporting vulnerable adults in the exercise of their legal capacity and managing patrimonial and non-patrimonial matters for the time when they lose their capacity of choice.
Equally in need of urgent review are the rules of private international law that currently determine, in cross-border cases, the jurisdiction of Italian courts to issue measures aimed to support adults in the exercise of their legal capacity, and the law applicable to such support. Italy has signed but not yet ratified, the Hague Convention of 13 January 2000 on the international protection of adults.
Against this background, the project pursues the following objectives:
- exploring new approaches to situations where vulnerable adults need support in the exercise of legal capacity, drafting interpretative guidelines which, de iure condito, could help to solve practical questions in accordance with the UNCRPD and, de iure condendo, could offer the basis for a broader legislative reform on the matter, and the form and content that it should have;
- establishing new powers of representation based on consent and, more specifically, designing the desirable model of lasting powers of attorney the future legislator might introduce into the Italian legal system;
- exporing new ex lege powers of representation;
- monitoring the initiatives of the Government delegated to enact the measures introduced by the above mentioned law;
- veryfing whether and to what extent the dejudicialization of the means of supporting the exercise of legal capacity strikes a right balance between autonomy and protection of vulnerable adults;
- suggesting the ratification of the Hague Convention and proper legislative measures to implement it in the domestic legal system.
Logo
The logo of the project has been created by Elena Zocchi, professional illustrator and graphic designer.
It depicts two stylised human figures who stand in front of several lines or paths, which represent the different possible choices. The human figure on the right represents a vulnerable adult, who, unbalancing himself slightly, chooses the path that is going to lead him to achievement of self-determination and affirmation of his own right to autonomy. By doing that his hand is held by the other human figure, who supports the decision-making process carried out the vulnerable adult autonomously.
The logo colours are taken from the official logo colours of the universities involved in the project. In particular, the two tones of red (from the logos of Università degli Studi di Padova e Università degli Studi di Torino) are employed with reference to vulnerable adults and autonomy of choice; otherwise, the two shades of blue (from the logos of Università di Pisa and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) are used in relation to the person supporting the vulnerable adult’s autonomous choice and this project as a whole, which is aimed at enhancing the autonomy of vulnerable adults.
The font chosen for the logotype is Lexend Bold, since it is particularly clear and so accessible to people with visual impairments.
Timeline
October 2023
1 November 2023
Publication of the journal article written by Prof. Maddalena Cinque “Testamento e affievolimenti della «consapevolezza affettiva»“
Bibliographical citation: Maddalena Cinque, ‘Testamento e “affievolimenti della consapevolezza affettiva”’ [2023] 69(6) Rivista di diritto civile 1239-1256.
3-4 November 2023
Conference “Un diritto gentile per la persona anziana“
Four members of the project team – namely, Prof. Pietro Franzina, Prof. Maddalena Cinque, Prof. Matilde Girolami and Prof. Mariassunta Piccinni – took part as speakers in the conference organised by Università degli Studi di Padova at Palazzo del Bo, Univerisità degli Studi di Padova.
Flyer
November-December 2023
Drafting of the questionnaires for the field-research concerning the procedural protection of vulnerable adults
Prepared by the Research Unit of Università degli Studi di Torino
January-June 2024
Carrying out interviews for the field-research concerning the procedural protection of vulnerable adults
By the Research Unit of Università degli Studi di Torino
6 May 2024
First plenary meeting
The first plenary operational meeting of the four project units took place online. The meeting, coordinated by Prof. Bargelli, focused mainly on the dissemination of the project through planning the organisation of several workshops, training sessions and conferences.
17-18 May 2024
Conference “I primi 20 anni di amministrazione di sostegno: successi, cadute, critiche e proposte“
Two members of the project team – namely, Prof. Pietro Franzina and Prof. Mariassunta Piccinni – took part as speakers in the conference at Campus di Piazzale Europa, Università degli Studi di Trieste.
Flyer
18 June 2024
Seminar “Le autorizzazioni notarili di volontaria giurisdizione“
Organised by the Research Unit of Università di Pisa in coordination with the CODE.FS project
Flyer
4 July 2024
Second plenary meeting
Another fruitful meeting of the project members took place online. After an initial discussion of the results achieved so far and an assessment of the state of research, the next objectives and related dates and deadlines were set.
5 July 2024
Conference “L’adulte vulnérable dans l’ordre européen et international: Anticiper la protection en droit international privé et comparé“
Prof. Franzina intervened in the panel “Les variétés de mesures de protection et de pouvoirs de représentation en droit comparé : leurs acceptations réciproques par les États” within the conference organised by Faculté de Droit of the Université Catholique de Lille, in partnership with INFN – Lille and CRIDON Nord-Est, and held at Faculté de Droit, Lille.
Flyer
17 July 2024
Workshop “Extra-Judicial Administration of Justice in Cross-Border Family and Succession Matters“
Organised by the Research Unit of Università di Pisa in coordination with the CODE.FS project
Flyer
July-October 2024
Elaboration of the results of the field-research concerning the procedural protection of vulnerable adults
Realised by the Research Unit of Università degli Studi di Torino.
5 September 2024
Third online plenary meeting
All project members from the four units met online. Following an in-depth review of the achieved results, the meeting directed its attention towards the coordination of a public event scheduled for the end of November 2024.
21-26 October 2024
Lessons on the protection of people lacking capacity with a focus on contractual autonomy in Italy and Spain
Dr. Emanuela Morotti carried out 15 hours of lessons entitled “La protección de la persona con incapacidad en Italia y España: instrumentos de autonomía contractual y perspectivas de introducción de la guarda de hecho” as Visiting Researcher at Facultad de Derecho, Universidad San Pablo CEU, Madrid (Spain) in different degree courses.
24 October 2024
Publication of the research article written by Prof. Pietro Franzina, together with Prof. Thalia Kruger “The International Protection of Adults after Brexit“
Bibliographical citation: Pietro Franzina and Thalia Kruger, ‘The International Protection of Adults after Brexit’ [2024] 38(1) International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family ebae017.
Link to the publication: open access.
November 2024
Publication of the research article “Les propositions législatives de la Commission européenne relatives à la protection internationale des adultes: les droits fondamentaux en question” by Prof. Pietro Franzina
Bibliographical citation: Pietro Franzina, ‘Les propositions législatives de la Commission européenne relatives à la protection internationale des adultes: les droits fondamentaux en question’ [2024] 60(3) Revue Trimestrielle de Droit Européen 307-335.
16 November 2024
Presentation of the results of the field-research concerning the procedural protection of vulnerable adults at the XXXII Congreso Nacional de Derecho Procesal
Conducted by Prof. Elena D’Alessandro in Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Website of the congress
29 November 2024
Publication of the journal article (report) by Prof. Elena D’Alessandro “Una ricerca empirica sul funzionamento dell’istituto dell’amministrazione di sostegno, a vent’anni dalla sua entrata in vigore, e sull’impatto pratico che, in punto di protezione degli adulti vulnerabili, sta avendo la recente degiurisdizionalizzazione opzionale operata dalla Riforma Cartabia (Art. 21 Dlgs. 149/2022)“
Bibliographical citation: Elena D’Alessandro, ‘Una ricerca empirica sul funzionamento dell’istituto dell’amministrazione di sostegno, a vent’anni dalla sua entrata in vigore, e sull’impatto pratico che, in punto di protezione degli adulti vulnerabili, sta avendo la recente degiurisdizionalizzazione opzionale operata dalla Riforma Cartabia (Art. 21 Dlgs. 149/2022)’ [2024] 2024(4) Il diritto processuale civile italiano e comparato 974-1023.
Link to the publication: open access
29 November 2024
Conference “Il futuro del mandato di protezione in Italia“
Prof. Elena Bargelli, Prof. Elena D’Alessandro, Prof. Pietro Franzina and Prof. Matilde Girolami, namely the four investigators of the project, as well as Dr. Rachele Zamperini, are among the speakers in this event at Università di Pisa, organised by the Università di Pisa Research Unit.
Flyer
Link to follow online
End of 2024
Publication of the conference proceedings “Un diritto gentile per la persona anziana” edited by Arianna Fusaro and Mariassunta Piccinni (Pacini Giuridica 2024)
The collection of essays includes the following contributions written in the framework of the project:
- Pietro Franzina and Francesca Albi, ‘L’autodeterminazione della persona anziana nelle situazioni con elementi di internazionalità’, p. 57-77.
- Maddalena Cinque, ‘Testamento redatto in età avanzata: tra captazione e “affievolimenti della consapevolezza affettiva”’, p. 193-204.
- Matilde Girolami, ‘La scelta negoziale nella protezione degli adulti vulnerabili: spunti dalla recente riforma tedesca’, p. 205-233.
4 April 2025
Presentation of the results of the field-research concerning the procedural protection of vulnerable adults at the International Congress on Revisiting the Fundamental Guarantees of Civil Litigation
Conducted by Prof. Elena D’Alessandro in Vitória (Brazil).
16 April 2025
Publication of the research article written by Prof. Pietro Franzina, together with Prof. Cristina González Beilfuss, Prof. Jan von Hein, Prof. Katja Karjalainen and Prof. Thalia Kruger “Cross-Border Protection of Adults: What Could the EU Do Better?“
Bibliographical citation: Pietro Franzina, Cristina González Beilfuss, Jan von Hein, Katja Karjalainen and Thalia Kruger, Cross-Border Protection of Adults: What Could the EU Do Better? 21 Journal of Private International Law [2025] 1-29.
Link to the publication: open access
16 September 2025
Seminar “La ricostruzione della volontà del maggiorenne fragile“
The challenges posed by Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: a dialogue between lawyers and psychiatrists.
Organized by the Research Unit of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
17-18 September 2025
Conference “The International Protection of Adults: Towards an EU-wide Uniform Regime“
Organized by the Research Unit of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, with the patronage of the Italian National Council of Notaries.
17 October 2025
Conference “L’autonomia negoziale dell’adulto vulnerabile“
Organized by the Research Unit of Università degli Studi di Padova, with the participation of many project team members such as Prof. Elena Bargelli, Prof. Elena D’Alessandro, Prof. Pietro Franzina and Prof. Matilde Girolami, namely the four investigators of the project.