LAW4155E - International human rights 406

Leader(s): Adam McBeth

Offered

Prato Term 2 2009 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit is a general introduction to international human rights law. It is concerned with human rights standards as they exist in international law and the international mechanisms for enforcing these standards. The unit will consider a selection of specific human rights, limitations to human rights (e.g. derogation in time of emergency) and some major contemporary international human rights issues.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit students should be able to

1. Understand and analyse international human rights standards and evaluate mechanisms designed to enforce human rights at the international/regional level;
2. Explain and critically discuss the content of various human rights, such content being identified, inter alia, by reference to the case law of the UN treaty monitoring committees and regional human rights courts;
3. Understand and critically evaluate some of the philosophical bases of and problems with international human rights law in light of contemporary human rights issues.

Assessment

Research paper (4,000 words): 50% (optional)
Examination: 50% - 2 hrs (plus 30 minutes reading and noting time) with the optional essay OR 100% - 3hr (plus 30 minutes reading and noting time) without the optional essay.

Prerequisites

LAW1100 OR LAW1101 and LAW1102 or LAW1104