Fundamental Rights

The course aims to enable students to learn the main legal issues concerning fundamental rights. In particular, to learn the ability to use a systematic interpretation, considering the normative dispositions as a part of a general system, in which each forecast is closely correlated with another. More particularly, students will therefore be able to learn the meaning of human dignity, of the principle of equality, which govern the Italian constitutional system and others From here it will be possible to understand and learn the theme of personal freedom, the criminal question in a constitutional perspective, as well as the issue of prisoners' rights, the death penalty and life imprisonment.

Knowledge and understanding
The course intends to deepen, with a legal and instutional approach, the problem of fundamental rights, in the Italian legal system and also in a comparative, European and international perspective. The aim is to make the main texts to which reference should be made on the subject as easy as possible for the students, as well as the most important decision-making techniques adopted by the judges. First of all, the reference will be to the Italian legal system, to the Constitution and to constitutional jurisprudence which, over time, has recognized and increasingly contributed to guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights. Particular attention will also be given to the European system, both as regards the European Union and its Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as with reference to the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights, in both cases dealing with both legislative texts both with the jurisprudence of the Courts of Luxembourg and Strasbourg. We will not fail to pay particular attention to the international order and to some States which, in the comparative scenario, undoubtedly constitute a point of reference, sometimes positive, others less so. Finally, the course will also have a more monographic part, in which the most important principles of criminal constitutional law will be analyzed, especially concerning penalties, from personal freedom to the rehabilitative function, up to treating the subject of the rights of prisoners, of the prison conditions and the question of the death penalty and life imprisonment.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The course aims to make the student able to apply the main concepts of contemporary constitutionalism concerning fundamental rights to problems, issues and cases which, although occurring in different contexts, require an increasingly homogeneous background.
Autonomy of judgment
The course aims to make the student able to form an autonomous interpretation, from the legal point of view, of political-institutional and social events concerning fundamental rights.
Communication skills
The course aims to make the student able to illustrate, even to non-specialist interlocutors, the main concepts of contemporary constitutionalism applied to the theme of fundamental rights, with properties of language and expository clarity.
Learning ability
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and methodological skills related to the phenomenon of fundamental rights, also with a view to further study in the course of study.