Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Description of research and teaching
My expertise includes constitutional law, human rights law and European law, with a focus on the rights and legal status of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, especially children and migrants. My doctoral thesis, which I defended in March 2021, examines the concept of the best interests of the child in human rights practice.
In my postdoctoral research, I have analysed the separation of powers in EU migration law as well as vulnerability and access to justice in the context of climate change. I am currently involved in the Generation AI and HR Just research projects at the Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights. In these projects, I study children’s rights in the context of AI in schools and states’ reliance on human rights when justifying their actions. Methodologically, I am interested in empirical, socio-legal and multidisciplinary approaches to law, alongside doctrinal legal research.
I teach European law and constitutional law and I am happy to advise students on the above themes.
Fields of Science
- 513 Law
- Constitutional law
- children's rights
- Human Rights Law
- immigration law
- European law
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Parliamentary scrutiny without formal powers? The European Parliament’s practice of securing access to information in informal EU readmission policy
Gnes, D. & Sormunen, M., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: European law review. 2025Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
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Through the Court’s Door, But Not Much Further: Finnish Climate Case II Explained
Kulovesi, K., Björklund, M., Bruun, O., Kolehmainen, L., Johansson, V., Mähönen, M. & Sormunen, M., 3 Feb 2025, In: 2035Legitimacy -blogi. 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › General public
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EU:n turvapaikkapolitiikka – Uudistuksia, kriisejä ja ulkoistamista
Sormunen, M., 22 Apr 2024, In: Politiikasta.fi. 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › General public
Open Access -
Legalising Illegality: Finland's Proposed Pushback Legislation
Sormunen, M., 10 May 2024, In: Verfassungsblog. 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Professional
Open Access -
No appetite for conflict? Assessing how the European Parliament and the European Ombudsman engage with executive discretion in informalized EU readmission policy
Gnes, D. & Sormunen, M., Sept 2024, The Dynamics of Powers in the European Union. Eckes, C., Leino-Sandberg, P. & Ghavanini, A. W. (eds.). Hart publishing, p. 55-74 20 p. (Modern Studies in European Law).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile
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HRJust: HRJust, a Horizon EU Funded project, examines how States use Human Rights Justifications to explain and defend their actions and decisions.
Ojanen, T. (Project manager) & Sormunen, M. (Participant)
01/12/2023 → 28/02/2026
Project: EU Horizon Europe: Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA)
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2035Legitimacy - jatkokausi
Leino-Sandberg, P. (Principal Investigator) & Sormunen, M. (Participant)
01/10/2023 → 30/09/2026
Project: Research Council of Finland: Strategic Research Council funding (SRC)
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2035Legiti: Leaving No One Lost in Transition: Citizens and the Legitimacy of Finland's Transition to a Carbon Neutral Welfare State
Leino-Sandberg, P. (Project manager), Ollikainen, P. A. P. (Participant) & Sormunen, M. (Participant)
Suomen Akatemia Projektilaskutus
01/10/2023 → 30/09/2026
Project: Research Council of Finland: Strategic Research Council funding (SRC)
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GenAI: Generation AI
Lindroos-Hovinheimo, S. (Project manager), Faisal, K. (Participant), Faisal, K. (Participant), Ignatius, J. E. (Participant), Koivulehto, M. J. (Participant), Sormunen, M. (Participant) & Sormunen, M. (Participant)
Suomen Akatemia Projektilaskutus
01/10/2022 → 30/09/2025
Project: Research Council of Finland: Strategic Research Council funding (SRC)
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SEPAROPE: SEPARATION OF POWERS FOR 21ST CENTURY EUROPE
Leino-Sandberg, P. (Principal Investigator), Hillebrandt, M. Z. (Participant), Wyatt, D. (Participant) & Sormunen, M. (Participant)
01/09/2020 → 30/08/2023
Project: Research project
Prizes
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Award for best article published in Lakimies in 2022
Sormunen, M. (Recipient), 10 Nov 2023
Prize: Prizes and awards
Activities
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Perustuslaki, politiikka ja asiantuntijat: keskustelua vallasta ja sen rajoista
Sormunen, M. (Speaker)
17 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Heurekan opettajailta
Sormunen, M. (Speaker)
3 Oct 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Nordic Rule of Law Forum 2024
Sormunen, M. (Speaker)
6 Dec 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Perustuslakivalvonta – voiko näin jatkua?
Sormunen, M. (Speaker)
8 Oct 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Oikeusvaltio ja turvallistunut rajapolitiikka
Sormunen, M. (Speaker)
16 Apr 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk