Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the theoretical, conceptual and methodological tools to analyse the process of positivization and the evolution of human rights, in the national, supranational and international law. The course aims to provide students with a better understanding of models and techniques for the protection of fundamental rights through the study of the constitutional jurisprudence, and of other courts.
Skills and abilities acquired at the end of the course:
- Knowledge of the major universal and regional systems of human rights protection and the related guarantees, with particular attention to the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
- Understanding of the techniques to guarantee civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights in the context of universal and regional systems of protection of fundamental freedoms.
- critical analysis of national, international, and supranational law on human rights; making judgements on the case law of national and supranational courts relating to human rights.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
This course is designed to provide students with guide to the study of liberties and fundamental rights as essential content of the contemporary constitutionalism.
The first section of the course will regard the development of human rights in an historical perspective; the philosophical basis and content of the doctrine of human rights; the legal concept of human rights; methods of interpretating human rights, the internationalization of human rights and the promotion and protection of human rights within universal and regional levels.
Particular attention will be paid to the courts' changing trends, due to the decisive role of judges (constitutional, national and supranational) in search of ways to guarantee individual rights.
The second section o the course will consider issues of the recent social and cultural debate thruogh practical activities and didactic laboratories.
These are the main issuees of the course: rights, duties and solidarity in the constitutional project of social justice; social rights and rights to a reduction of the economic inequality, welfare State, financial crisis and public finance equilibrium: The economic sustainability of the welfare state and of social policies, workers’ rights and transformations of the labour market; human rights over time: environment, cultural heritage, future generations; civil rights and anti-discrimination policies (families and new family models, equal opportunities); body, sexuality, life technologies: the right to the sexual identity, ethical and juridical conflicts in the face of the medically assisted procreation, end-life-decisions, the protection of health and the freedom of choice; rights in the evolution of communication technologies (internet, social networks, etc.); rights in the perspective of cultural and religious pluralism.
Full programme
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Bibliography
P. CARETTI, Diritti fondamentali. Libertà e diritti sociali, Torino, Giappichelli, 2011, only these parts of the book:
- Parte generale. – I. La prospettiva storica: ricostruzioni teoriche e modelli di tutela. – II. I diritti fondamentali nell’esperienza costituzionale italiana: dallo Statuto Albertino alla Costituzione repubblicana. – III. I diritti fondamentali nella Costituzione italiana: quadro generale. – IV. La tutela internazionale dei diritti fondamentali.
- Parte Speciale. – V. L’interpretazione dell’art. 2 della Costituzione. – VI. Il principio di eguaglianza
N. OCCHIOCUPO, Costituzione e Corte costituzionale. Percorsi di un rapporto “genetico” dinamico e indissolubile, Milano, Giuffré, 2010 (the paper "La Corte costituzionale «esigenza intrinseca» della Costituzione repubblicana" and two other papers on the student's personal choice).
For Students of the Second cycle degree in Management in social work the teaching material for the examination is as follow:
P. CARETTI, Diritti fondamentali. Libertà e diritti sociali, Torino, Giappichelli, 2011, only these parts of the book:
- Parte generale. – I. La prospettiva storica: ricostruzioni teoriche e modelli di tutela. – II. I diritti fondamentali nell’esperienza costituzionale italiana: dallo Statuto Albertino alla Costituzione repubblicana. – III. I diritti fondamentali nella Costituzione italiana: quadro generale. – IV. La tutela internazionale dei diritti fondamentali. Parte Speciale. – V. L’interpretazione dell’art. 2 della Costituzione. – VI. Il principio di eguaglianza.
- XII. I diritti sociali
- XIII. I doveri di solidarietà politica, economica e sociale.
Teaching methods
The course will take place mainly through lectures.
In connection with the course programme, seminar programmes and explorations of particularly relevant issues will be organised, with scholars and teachers also from other universities and institutes taking part. Course attendees will be involved in organising these seminars and preparing course materials.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination. Students will be required to demonstrate that they have acquired (a) the knowledge of the fundamental categories related to the conceptualization, positivization and internationalization of human rights, (b) ability to critical analysis of regulatory models and case law for the protection of human rights.
Other information
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