Academics in Florence

Immediately after the WWII, human rights were introduced to the world through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, known as the beginning of modern human rights legal regime. However, the modern human rights legal regime suffered from its defective birth and growth. On the one hand, conventional human suffering is still rampant in the world due to its defective birth and growth, and on the other, a new area, Artificial Intelligence, has already challenged the rights of human and started causing human sufferings. Today, we live in hybrid human society, where a combination of artificial intelligence and human intelligence dictates our lives. AI has the potential to transform life as we know it, and yet is being advanced at almost incomprehensible speeds and used by corporations and governments who brazenly disregard its potential impact, flout attempts at sufficient regulation, and show no signs of meaningfully guarding or guiding its impact.

In this context, this class explores what is AI, the contemporary human rights challenges caused by AI, present human rights legal regimes that address AI challenges, and structural and functional aspects of international human rights law and its nexus to AI caused human rights problems. We will make our effort to suggest AI regulatory means to realize its benefits to human. We will be using AI apps and selected reading materials as our learning tools.

This course will explore the business, technology, and law of artificial intelligence through an international lens, with a series of case studies that examine both current legal and regulatory approaches in the US and abroad – along with the normative frameworks that can improve and clarify the best approach to disruptive AI technology. Specific industry case studies, like the legal profession, driverless cars, and AI tools in hiring and employment, will be examined. Further, the impact of AI in the private sector on individual and collective rights, including social justice and international human rights, will also be explored.

This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of human rights. The class examines the major human rights laws, including treaties, customs, and other international and national laws, as well as the various institutions in which human rights are challenged, adjudicated, and enforced. Specific current topics addressed are selected on an ongoing basis throughout the semester. The class identifies a contemporary international human rights problem and develops a human rights case to challenge in different local, national, regional, and international forums. The course also deals with business and human rights, artificial intelligence and human rights, cybersecurity and human rights, terrorism, economic inequality, and other contemporary issues relating to human rights.

Norms protecting human rights and laws safeguarding the environment have grown apace for several decades. During this time, UN special rapporteurs, courts, treaty monitoring bodies, and other human rights mechanisms have recognized the relationship between existing human rights—such as the right to life—and environmental protection. In 2022, the UN General Assembly specifically recognized a human right to a healthy environment, and most regional human rights systems and domestic constitutions now recognize such a right. Still, no universal international human rights treaty has enshrined a human right to a healthy environment, and global challenges such as climate change make further development of environmental human rights more urgent.

This course will explore the evolution of the right to a healthy environment and examine the intersection of international human rights law with a variety of environmental issues. We will study, among other topics, the development of environmental human rights within the international system, state constitutional frameworks that support the right to a healthy environment, the approach of regional human rights systems to environmental issues, relevant international legal instruments, the related notion of rights of nature, and the human rights dimensions of climate change.

While the focus of this course will be on those topics described above, certain readings and some class time will be designed to provide enough foundational content so that no prior experience with international human rights law will be required of students. 

Professor Upendra Acharya

In this unique international skills program, students will learn the history, objectives, and methods of international mediation in both commercial law and human rights contexts, culminating in an international competition co-hosted with the University of Florence School of Law. To begin, prior to the start of the Florence program, students will study online to build a foundation for mediation practices. Once in Florence, to prepare for the competition, students will practice mediation methods with Gonzaga faculty.

The mediation program itself covers two days. On day one, students will attend a seminar on mediation practices with world-renowned mediation experts. For example, in years past the seminar speakers were Pietro Galizzi, Avv., General Counsel of Eni Oil and Gas, one of the largest industrial companies in the world, and Dr. Johanna Hawari-Bourjeily, director of the mediation program at the University of St. Joseph School of Law in Beirut, Lebanon. After this seminar, Gonzaga and Florence students will retire for a happy hour and social activities to cultivate professional relationships. On day two, five teams of four Gonzaga students will compete against five teams of Florence students. That evening, the schools will host an awards dinner and gala, where faculty, students, and other guests celebrate the program and student accomplishments.

Standards for Academic Credit

• Grades ranging from “A” – “F” will be assigned for these courses.
• Students from law schools other than Gonzaga must determine the transferability of grades and credits earned in the program to their home institutions.
• Students should make inquiries at their home institutions concerning transferability before applying for admission to the program.

Academic Scheduling

The Florence Summer Law program is a four week long program. Classes are held three days a week, Monday through Thursday. Each class meets during the day for two hours each.

Accreditation Information

• The Florence Summer Law Program is open to law students in academic good standing at law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, by a state of the United States, or Canada.
• Gonzaga is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools.
• The Florence Summer Law Program is considered part of the Gonzaga University School of Law’s regular course offerings.

Academic Standards

• In order to be accepted to the Florence Summer Law Program students must be in good academic standing with a 2.400+ GPA.
• Many law schools, including Gonzaga, will not allow students who have been academically dismissed to continue in the program.
• The academic content of the program meets the same standards as courses offered on-campus.
• Student performance is measured by the same standards used to evaluate student performance in on-campus courses.
• Students who register in summer law programs before their grades for the prior semester or quarter have been finalized do so at their own risk.
• It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the policy regarding academic dismissal at the student’s law school.
• When all grades have been submitted to the registrar for the prior semester, a Gonzaga student participating in the program must meet the requirements of Academic Rule 2-3.I.2.d, or his or her registration in the program will be canceled and any paid tuition will be fully refunded.