International Human Rights Law

Subject LAWS70264 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

July, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Peter Rush

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

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 truth and reconciliation commissions to the protection of human rights
  • Current issues, such as refugees and discrimination on the grounds of race and sex
  • Human rights and the challenges posed by economic globalisation and climate change.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Have a basic 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 domestic judicial implementation, international human rights courts, human rights treaty bodies and truth and reconciliation commissions
  • Understand the central role played by non-government organisations (NGOs) in the international system
  • Develop the capacity to examine current issues with 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.
Assessment: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date

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