LUMEN Researchers at the European Conference of African Studies in Prague

From June 25 to 28, 2025, the LUMEN research unit from the University of Florence participated in the European Conference of African Studies (ECAS), held in Prague. Researchers Maria Stella Rognoni, Mariachiara Boldrini, and Rachele Cecchi presented their work during the panel “The Ecological Embrace in Africa: Framing Justice and Law in Human and More-Than-Human Relational Terms”, organized by Veronica Federico, head of the LUMEN research unit at UNIFI, together with Melanie Murcott from the University of Cape Town.

The panel explored the ecosystemic approach within African legal systems, focusing on the recognition of the rights and interests of non-human entities—such as ecosystems, animals, and landscapes—while also engaging in critical reflection on the concept of “resource”, moving beyond the reduction of natural elements like water, forests, and biodiversity to mere economic goods.

At the core of the discussion were key questions about the role of African philosophy—including ubuntu and other relational worldviews—in shaping inclusive and more-than-human legal systems. The panel examined how legal frameworks in Africa can incorporate diverse cosmovisions, principles, and practices that recognize the interconnectedness of all living and non-living beings.