76347 - Equal Opportunities Law

Learning outcomes

Skills and abilities to be accomplished

The aim of this Course is a complex one, and particularly relevant when considering the current political- institutional debate. Equality in all its aspects is gaining more and more importance, both in a National and in an European/International outlook. The teaching path starts from the Italian Constitution, stressing the key role of equality throughout its whole text. Beginning from article 3, all of the parameters defining equality will be considered: gender, religion, language, race, personal conditions. This will make it possible to ascertain whether or not every possible step has so far been taken in order to accomplish equality in the real lives of both Institutions and citizens.

Starting from this year, the course will be carried out in an innovative way: along with classical, taught classes about Constitution, laws and ruling, the Teacher will also show some movies which are relevant to specific equality parameters and effectively dramatize them. All pictures were inspired by true stories; each showing will be introduced and followed by theoretical considerations about the examined parameter.

Taught classes will be based on slide projections, as well as the exam of rulings and laws also in a comparative perspective.

This course should enable students :

1) to understand the origins and the achievements of the equality principle;

2) to understand the meaning of “stereotipe” and when it becomes “prejudice”;

3) to evaluate the implications of the equality principle;

4) to comment laws and rules concerning equality in a national, european and international perspective

5) to successfully understand the meaning of institutional changes and their consequences on general law systems, in order to identify possible further steps toward a full accomplishment of the equality principle in its various aspects.

Knowledge and abilities to be achieved:

Students will attain a sound knowledge of national (Italian), European and international laws concerning the equality principle, as well as jurisprudence on this subject.

Course paths:

This course includes two different paths, for attending and non-attending students, respectively. Attending students are students following not less than 75% of lessons. After every lesson, students will be requested to sign out and attendance records will be kept by the teacher.

Course contents

The target of this course is a complex one; therefore, it will start with a preliminary introduction to the equality principle in general; later on, specific parameters quoted in Art. 3 of the Constitution will be analyzed in detail.

Schedule:

The equality principle and its specifications:

- Equal without sex discrimination

- Equal without race discrimination

- Equal without language discrimination

- Equal without religion discrimination

- Equal without discriminations based on political opinions, personal and social conditions

Readings/Bibliography

For attending students, readings will be supplied by the teacher on the basis of a mailing list. It is recommended that students keep a copy of the Constitution at hand during lessons.

Course textbook for non-attending students is:

F. Rescigno (a cura di), Percorsi di eguaglianza, Giappichelli, Torino, 2016.

Knowledge and consultation of the Italian Constitution are MANDATORY

Teaching methods

The course will start with an overview of Constitutional Right tools, stressing the equality principle in particular; thereafter, Italian and European laws regarding equal opportunities will be analyzed, both from a national and a comparative standpoint.

This course includes two different paths, for attending and non-attending students, respectively. Attending students are students following not less than 75% of lessons. After every lesson, students will be requested to sign out and attendance records will be kept by the teacher.

Attending students will achieve knowledge of the course matter through projections of films and slides, notes and information given by the teacher Prof Rescigno during lessons. Also, workshops with experts will take place throughout the course. At the end of the course, each student will be requested to arrange, and discuss with the teacher and course mates, a presentation about a specific topic, to be decided in agreement with Prof. Rescigno.

NON-attending students will have to undergo a standard oral examination at the end of the course; the set textbook is: F. Rescigno (a cura di), Percorsi di eguaglianza, Giappichelli, Torino, 2016. 

 

Assessment methods

Attending students will pass their learning test by discussing with the teacher and course mates a self-arranged presentation about a specific topic, to be decided in agreement with Prof. Rescigno.

Non-attending students will undergo a standard oral examination

Teaching tools

Slides in the PPT format

DVDs

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Rescigno