Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza

The Anti Discrimination Law course is framed within the general objective of the Master Programme in European Legal Studies to provide the students with an advanced cultural and knowledge of legal phenomena on the European Union and Council of Europe systems. 

The theories and practices of anti-discrimination law will be analysed to help students systematically interpret the various sources of law regarding equality and non-discrimination and improve the students' proficiency in understanding and critically analyzing judicial cases.

By the end of the course, students should achieve the following learning objectives:

a) Knowledge and comprehension

- knowledge of the multilevel protection against different forms of discrimination 

- Knowledge of the landmark judicial decisions in equality law that have shaped legal principles and protections relating to discrimination based on various characteristics. 

- understanding of the role played by civil society organizations, trade unions, and equality bodies in the enforcement of equality law

b) Ability to apply knowledge 

- Ability to handle complex reasoning on EU legal texts

- Ability to critically analyse relevant legal texts (EU legislation, case-law, soft-law documents)

- Ability to apply the rules and principles of EU law to a given situation and to catch their implications

c) Autonomous intellectual approach and critical thinking

- Ability to organise the acquired knowledge and to weigh its importance and relevance

- Ability to understand and discuss topical issues through the lenses of EU and domestic equality law 

- Ability to explain the acquired knowledge using appropriate legal terminology 

The course is structured into 4 modules.

1. The first module will offer an introduction to the different concepts of equality, the prevalent theories of anti-discrimination law, and provide an overview of the U.S., European, and other national and international anti-discrimination law systems and legal sources

2. The second module - 12 hours - is dedicated to "Decolonising European Law" and will be held by Professor Alice Panepinto. It will explore the issue of decolonising law, through a thematic, regional (European), and comparative lens. It will explore how law operates as an instrument of power due to its enmeshment with colonial and imperial heritage, and analyse how this intrinsic feature contributes to consolidating inequalities and different forms of intersectional discrimination. 

3 The third module will analyze the key concepts of equality law exploring the origins and characteristics of the prohibited forms of discrimination (namely: direct/indirect discrimination; harassment; discrimination by declaration; discrimination by association; victimization; and instruction to discriminate) with particular attention paid to the judicial developments in the protection againnst discrimination based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, and disability.

4. The final part of the course will be dedicated to the role played by NGOs, equality bodies, and civil society associations in advancing and enforcing anti-discrimination law through their advocacy, lobbying, and litigation strategies.

The course will be held through presence lessons. Please check on the Moodle e-learning page for more detailed information in relation to each class.

Face-to-face classes will consist of lectures as well as interactive activities. Students will be encouraged to engage in a range of individual and group tasks during classes, including the discussion of the relevant material from course readings and the debate over selected case-law. 

The final exam is written. It consists of two parts:

1) a multiple-choice quiz (50%)

2) a short essay (50)%.

Alternative assessment methods will be made available to attending students.

The following criteria will be taken into consideration for the final evaluation:

- formal accuracy 

- completeness of the answers

- adequate selection of the relevant arguments

- adequate presentation of the arguments (including use of appropriate legal terminology)

- autonomous organization and elaboration of the answer

The Moodle e-learning page of the course is a key instrument. Students are expected to enrol in the Moodle page of the course and to check it regularly.

Students facing special learning disorders are kindly encouraged to contact the professor to disclose any challenges they encounter with the study materials and course activities. This is crucial to ensure that all students can have full and easy access to the learning opportunities offered during the course. 

Please check the relevant webpage of the Law Department website, which outlines the available institutional support and tools: https://www.giurisprudenza.unito.it/do/home.pl/View?doc=/Studiare/dsa.html'

In particular, the Moodle e-learning page will feature:

- an e-book containing all relevant EU, Council of Europe, and domestic legislation.

- PowerPoint presentations

- suggested readings and judicial decisions.

- Materials for interactive activities.