LAW30470 International Human Rights Law

Academic Year 2020/2021

This module involves the study of the promotion and protection of human rights under international law. It aims to provide students with a substantial grounding in the legal foundations of contemporary international human rights law (IHRL), with a particular emphasis on the International Bill of Rights. The module is structured in three parts. The first part will introduce the history and underlying justifications for IHRL, its structure, sources, scope of application, as well as the nature and scope of human rights and corresponding state obligations. In the second part, we will explore the UN mechanism that have been set up to review states' efforts to implement their international human rights obligations, including state reporting mechanisms, individual complaint mechanisms and inter-state peer-review mechanisms. In the third part, we focus on discussing selected substantive rights, covering both civil and political as well as socio-economic rights. Throughout all three parts, the module will incorporate the analysis of contemporary challenges to IHRL, such as, for example, its extraterritorial application, the emergence of powerful non-state actors, poverty and inequality, migration, unprecedented private and state surveillance capabilities, authoritarianism and populism, armed conflicts, terrorism/counter-terrorism, and most recently, pandemics.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should be able to:
- Explain the origin, justifications, sources and scope of application of IHRL;
- Demonstrate knowledge and understand the nature and scope of human rights and corresponding obligations under international law, including how these rights and obligations impact domestic law and practice;
- Understand and evaluate substantive rights and corresponding obligations, including in light of contemporary challenges to IHRL;
- Relate and apply IHRL to real-life events and hypothetical fact situations; and
- Understand the various international and domestic implementation mechanisms of IHRL (UN treaty bodies, UN Human Rights Council, domestic implementation mechanisms).

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20

Autonomous Student Learning

85

Online Learning

4

Total

109

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Classes in this module will primarily take place by way of lectures which will incorporate enquiry & problem-based learning, debates and case-based learning. As this module is taught online In autumn 2020, lectures will be delivered via Virtual Classroom and/or will be (pre-)recorded. Regular discussion fora on Brightspace will allow students to discuss their questions with the module convenor and other students. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
International Human Rights (LAW20140), International Human Rights Law (LAW27140)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Examination: Take-home open-book exam to be completed within a 12 hour window in week 12. Week 12 Yes Graded No

100


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Examination feedback for this module will be provided by means of group feedback on Brightspace by the release of the date for provisional results availability.

Name Role
Dr Amrei Muller Lecturer / Co-Lecturer