F1HH 4100 - Introduction to International Human Rights Law (Lecture)

The course will be organised thematically. Major issues in international human rights law (the right to life and the prohibition of capital punishment, freedom of expression, equality, economic and social rights, minorities, accountability and criminal justice) will be examined in detail, exploring at the same time the structures and mechanisms of the United Nations and of regional bodies such as the Council of Europe. In this way, by the end of the semester students should have a good general grasp of the institutional framework through which human rights are promoted and protected at the international law. They should also learn the methodology for the study of specific issues, including the roles of different treaties and other documents, and the significance of the work of such sources as the materials of the Human Rights Council, the special rapporteurs, the treaty bodies, the European Court of Human Rights, etc. The objective of the course is to provide students with an overview of both the content of international human rights sources and the mechanisms for their implementation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Familiarity with sources of international human rights law in United Nations and regional systems .
2. General familiarity with public international law in cognate areas, notably international humanitarian law and international criminal law.
3. Appreciation of major controversies in international human rights law.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

Ability to conduct basic research on human rights law using sources of international human rights law.

William SCHABAS,Laure BIHIET,Nikolaos KARMIS

Cours magistral seul

English

N.B. This course will be taught over a six-week period starting with the beginning of the session in early September. It will conclude before the mid-term break. There will be two classes each week. Each class will focus on a specific human right that is enshrined in international human rights law. A pre-recorded lecture of about 40 minutes will be made available to students with the intention that this be viewed prior to each class. The on-line class will consist of discussion of the lecture by participating students, framed around a number of questions that will be circulated prior to the class.

- Online learning activities: 4 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 16 hours a week / 96 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 6 hours a week / 36 hours a semester

As this is a mandatory course, there is no prerequisite. Students with no background in public international law are encouraged to familiarize themselves with some of its basic notions. There are many introductory textbooks in the field of public international law to choose from. A good beginning might be Vaughan Lowe, International Law: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015, which can be purchased on-line for less than €10.

Autumn 2022-2023

There will be two assessments.
The first will involve research on a specific human right using international law sources and the production of a 1,000-word Wikipedia entry on that right. Instructions on how to conduct such research will be provided by a recorded class that students may consult at their leisure. During on-line classes, questions about the preparation of the assignment will be addressed.

The second assessment will be a take-home exam. It will consist of three questions from which students are to choose two. The answer to each of the two questions should not exceed 500 words.

The deadline for the Wikipedia assignment will be the end of the fifth week of the session. Results of the assignment will be delivered to each student during the week following the mid-term study week.
The take-home examination will be circulated ten days after the final class. Students will have thirty-six hours in which to return the examination answers. Grades for the take-home examination will be delivered within twenty days of the examination.
Each of the two assessments will contribute 50% to the final grade for the course.

Feedback will be provided to students on the Wikipedia assignment in the form of comments.