Marek Piechowiak

Professor Marek Piechowiak is a distinguished academic at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, where he serves as Head of the Department of Public Law and Legal Theory within the Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań. A renowned lawyer and philosopher, he specializes in philosophy of law and international and constitutional protection of human rights. With extensive experience in human rights institutions and visiting professorships across Europe, Professor Piechowiak has established himself as a leading expert in constitutional law, dignity theory, and human rights frameworks.

Professor Piechowiak's research interests focus on the philosophical foundations of law, with particular emphasis on human dignity, constitutional theory, and the relationship between morality and law. His work explores the concept of dignity from multiple perspectives, analyzing its role in constitutional interpretation and human rights protection. He has made significant contributions to understanding the axiological basis of Polish law, the concept of the common good in constitutionalism, and the philosophical underpinnings of natural law theory. His scholarship bridges legal theory with practical human rights applications, examining how constitutional frameworks can address social exclusion and protect fundamental rights.

His extensive publication record, comprising over 120 academic articles, reveals a consistent focus on dignity as a central concept in constitutional law and human rights. Professor Piechowiak's recent work has increasingly examined the philosophical dimensions of dignity, its various interpretations in constitutional contexts, and its relationship to justice and legal theory. His scholarship demonstrates a progression from practical human rights applications to deeper philosophical inquiries into the foundations of legal systems, with notable contributions on Plato's philosophy, Thomas Aquinas' natural law theory, and contemporary constitutional dilemmas.

• Ad hoc judge of the European Court of Human Rights
• Research fellowships at Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study
• Hague Academy of International Law
• Netherlands Institute of Human Rights
• International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg

Professor Piechowiak has made significant contributions to legal education, having previously served as the first Commissioner for Children's Rights in Poland after the position was established in 2000. He teaches constitutional law, human rights, and theory and philosophy of law at the Faculty of Psychology and Law in Poznań, and doctoral courses in axiology of law and philosophy at SWPS University in Warsaw. His academic career reflects a commitment to bridging theoretical legal scholarship with practical human rights applications.