Milka Sormunen

Milka Sormunen is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Law, where she specializes in constitutional law, human rights law, and European Union law. Her research focuses on vulnerable groups, particularly children and migrants, and examines themes like separation of powers in EU migration policy, climate justice, and access to rights. She teaches European and constitutional law and supervises doctoral candidates in the Doctoral Programme in Law.

Her research interests span:

• Constitutional Law: Power dynamics and legitimacy in governance.
• Human Rights: Vulnerable groups’ protections, especially children and migrants.
• Climate Justice: Legal remedies for climate-related rights violations.
• EU Migration Policy: Informalization of readmission agreements and parliamentary oversight.

Recent publications (2021–2025) predominantly explore migration governance, climate litigation, children’s rights, and EU policy informalization, reflecting a focus on accountability, rule of law, and interdisciplinary legal approaches.

Scientific Awards:

• Award for best article published in Lakimies (2022), received in 2023.

Projects & Advising: She leads/participates in projects including:

• HRJust (Horizon EU): Human rights justifications in state actions.
• Generation AI: Children’s rights in AI-driven education.
• 2035Legitimacy: Finland’s transition to a carbon-neutral welfare state.
• SEPAROPE: Separation of powers in 21st-century Europe.

Affiliations: She is affiliated with the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ) and the Erik Castrén Institute, where she employs empirical and socio-legal methodologies.