Preface to Volume 7, Issue 2

Abstract

Dear Readers, 

What occurs when the law is called upon to name and shape phenomena that have long remained at the margins of legal discourse? How do traditional legal categories succeed—or struggle—in making sense of increasingly complex and layered social transformations?

The contributions collected in Volume 7, Issue 2 of the Trento Student Law Review engage precisely with this critical space. The reflections presented address highly topical issues, illuminating the persistent tension between violence, protection, and effective access to rights, as well as the role of institutions in recognizing, preventing, and responding to phenomena that are often underestimated or interpreted through categories that have become inadequate. Beneath these analyses lies the risk of selective protection, which may fail to ensure consistent and timely safeguards, raising profound questions about how law functions as a tool for recognition and inclusion.

Without purporting to offer definitive answers, the articles in this issue contribute to a space of critical reflection—a central vocation of our journal. This is a space where law is not only an object of study but also a language, a continuous dialogue. Here, the Trento Student Law Review asserts its identity, valuing the plurality of perspectives and rigorous engagement among diverse viewpoints, all within the framework of scholarly rigor and academic discourse.

Serving in a leadership role within a university law journal, even within its limited scope, has made me acutely aware that even spaces perceived as neutral are shaped by often invisible structures of power. At the same time, the collaborative work carried out with the Editorial Board and the entire editorial team has shown how such structures can be challenged through daily practices of cooperation, attentive listening, and mutual support. In this sense, our journal functions as a microcosm that, in its small way, seeks to contribute critically to legal discourse, demonstrating that scholarly work is never an individual endeavor but the product of a collective effort comprising editors, reviewers, visiting editors, and contributors.

I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to all the authors who entrusted their work to our journal, to the reviewers who accompany us with expertise and generosity, and to every editor whose dedication makes this project possible. Special thanks go to the members of the Editorial Board for their commitment and shared responsibility in navigating the journal’s daily challenges. I would also like to express particular appreciation to our Vice Editor-in- Chief, Emily Miraglia, for her unwavering support, presence, and contributions that extend far beyond the publication of this issue—a testament to how building a scholarly community is nurtured through relationships founded on trust and collaboration.

As I conclude my term, I offer my heartfelt best wishes to the new Editorial Board and, in particular, to the incoming Editor-in- Chief, Emil Trigolo. I encourage them to approach their roles with freedom to experiment, to look beyond established boundaries, and to embrace their own visions, so that the journal may continue to grow and evolve across generations. Every student community faces distinct challenges and complexities in its historical moment; my hope is that these are approached not as constraints imposed by the past, but as opportunities to advance the Trento Student Law Review in the spirit of continuity, trust, and openness.

With the hope that this issue may inspire reflection, dialogue, and intellectual growth, I wish you an engaging and thought- provoking reading experience.

Sincerely,

Rossella Borella

Editor-in-Chief