International Human Rights Law

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

• Have a sound understanding of the history and philosophy of international human rights
• Be able to understand and assess claims as to the contested universality of international human rights
• Have a detailed knowledge of the international legal and institutional frameworks for the protection of human rights
• Be able to assess the effectiveness of different mechanisms for implementing or enforcing human rights, such as judicial implementation, international criminal courts, and truth and reconciliation commissions
• Understand the central role played by NGOs in the international system
• Develop the capacity to examine current issues by reference to international human rights standards
• Be able to understand the challenges posed to the implementation of international human rights in the context of globalisation
• Have developed skills of critical thinking, legal research and academic writing to understand and assess the significance and limitations of the international human rights system.

Syllabus:

Principal topics will include:

• Human rights and the challenges posed by state sovereignty and national security
• The contested universality of human rights
• The international institutional framework for the protection of human rights, with a special focus on the Human Rights Council and treaty monitoring system
• The interpretation and application of selected rights from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Domestic measures for the implementation of human rights, such as judicial implementation of economic, social and cultural rights
• NGOs and their role in the protection of human rights
• The contribution of international criminal courts and truth and reconciliation commissions to the protection of human rights
• Current issues, such as refugees, non-discrimination and gender mainstreaming
• Human rights and the challenges posed by economic globalisation.

• Examination 3 hours (100%) (3 April, pm)
  
  or

• Research paper 10,000 words (100%) (21 May) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

• Have a sound understanding of the history and philosophy of international human rights
• Be able to understand and assess claims as to the contested universality of international human rights
• Have a detailed knowledge of the international legal and institutional frameworks for the protection of human rights
• Be able to assess the effectiveness of different mechanisms for implementing or enforcing human rights, such as judicial implementation, international criminal courts, and truth and reconciliation commissions
• Understand the central role played by NGOs in the international system
• Develop the capacity to examine current issues by reference to international human rights standards
• Be able to understand the challenges posed to the implementation of international human rights in the context of globalisation
• Have developed skills of critical thinking, legal research and academic writing to understand and assess the significance and limitations of the international human rights system.

Syllabus:

Principal topics will include:

• Human rights and the challenges posed by state sovereignty and national security
• The contested universality of human rights
• The international institutional framework for the protection of human rights, with a special focus on the Human Rights Council and treaty monitoring system
• The interpretation and application of selected rights from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
• Domestic measures for the implementation of human rights, such as judicial implementation of economic, social and cultural rights
• NGOs and their role in the protection of human rights
• The contribution of international criminal courts and truth and reconciliation commissions to the protection of human rights
• Current issues, such as refugees, non-discrimination and gender mainstreaming
• Human rights and the challenges posed by economic globalisation.

• Examination 3 hours (100%) (3 April, pm)
  
  or

• Research paper 10,000 words (100%) (21 May) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)