Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza

The theories and practices of anti-discrimination law will be analysed in order to help students to make systematic interpretations of the various sources of law regarding discrimination and to improve the students' proficiency in analyzing judicial cases.

By the end of the course students should have an overall awareness of the multilevel protection from different forms of discrimination and should be able to critically analyse the case-law  interpreting the equality principle.

The course will begin with an introduction to the different concepts of equality and an overview of the U.S., European, and other national and international anti-discrimination law systems. 

Particular attention will be paid to recent developments in the protection from discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, disability at the European level in light of the most significant domestic constitutional case-law as well as through the European Court of Human Rights and and the Court of Justice of the European Union leading cases.

The final part of the course will be dedicated to the role of advocacy, lobbying and litigation strategies in combating discrimination.

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.

Students will also have the opportunity to meet guest lecturers such as public interest lawyers and experts of human rights lobbying and advocacy in the final part of the course. 

Final exam is written. it consists of two parts: 1) multiple-choice quiz (50%) 2) short essay (50)%.

Students attending at least 70% of the classes may choose to be evalutated on a multiple-choice quiz (50%) and on a class presentation (50%).

Students will be provided with an ebook collecting all relevant European and domestic legislation.

For students attending classes: powerpoint presentations, readings and judicial decisions will be uploaded on the Moodle platform. Moreover, useful materials to participate in class interactive activities will be made available on the Moodle platform before the class takes place.

1) U. Belavusau-K. Hernard, EU Anti-Discrimination Law beyond Gender, Hart Publishing, 2018, §§ 1; 6; 8; 10; 14.

2) R. O'Connell, Cinderella Comes to the Ball: Article 14 and the Right to Non-Discrimination in the ECHR, in Legal Studies, Issue No. 2, 2009, free downolad at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1328531