(9 July 2018) Today until July 19th the fourth edition of the summer school in constitutional law "Democracia e Desenvolvimento" will be held at the University of Siena. The course is part of the consolidated collaboration with the Latin American University carried out by DIPEC, a research and training group on public, European and comparative law of the University of Siena. The subjects of the lessons will be the judicial protection of fundamental rights, civil, political, and social rights and the relationship between law and economic development. All activities will take place in the classrooms of the Department of Law of the University of Siena and will be held in Spanish and Portuguese by professors and experts from Brazil, Italy, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, France, United Kingdom, and Germany. Many of the students come from Universities in Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. The initiative stems from the cooperation agreement and the first protocol signed in May 2015 by the University of Siena and the Faculdades Alfa-Alves Faria. On the basis of these agreements, the two institutions, in addition to organising the summer course, have also worked towards increasing the exchange of students and researchers, carrying out joint research programmes and organising scientific and cultural initiatives. This edition of the summer school is also part of the activities planned within the OPT-IN project, coordinated by the University of Bologna, which sees the University of Siena partnered with other European and Latin American institutions. The project, funded under the Erasmus KA2 Capacity Building programme in the field of Higher Education, aims to develop a transnational and interculturality aimed at defending nature and protecting peace in the Andean community.