F1HH 5060 - Investigate, Expose, Change: Foundations of Human Rights Work

This workshop prepares students for a “real” professional life in the human rights world, should it be in investigation, documentation, alert and denunciation, communication or advocacy.

It goes from theory to practice and teaches practical skills covering the following learning outcomes: how to identify and design a research project, how to plan and conduct the research, including field investigations, and how to present the findings effectively to the media and advocacy targets.

Covered topics include investigative methodology (interviewing victims, and witnesses; collection and analysis of photo, video, documentary and material evidence; as well as the use of new technologies; some psychological aspects of addressing trauma and particularly sensitive issues).

Students will also learn to select, conceptualize, and develop human rights research projects, and enrich their writing skills to present human rights findings in a clear, concise and compelling manner.

Learning Outcomes :

Students will learn through a collective and highly interactive experience and a personal research to build through the whole semester:

• how to identify and design a human rights research project,
• how to plan and conduct the research, including field investigations and preserve victims and oneself
• how to analyze the decision making environment and build the advocacy strategy within the given project
• how to present the findings effectively to the media and to build a impact oriented communication

Professional skills:

• ability to research and synthesize
• documentation skills
• ability to convince
• analytical skills
• critical approach
• advocacy skills
• communication skills
• collective thinking
• critical aproach

• A Bachelor’s degree in law, political science, international relations, sociology, anthropology, or another relevant field
• Prior coursework in international law, political theory, or human rights is strongly recommended
• Proficiency in English for reading and discussion; French may also be useful
• Familiarity with the basic functioning of international and regional human rights institutions (e.g., UN system, regional and national institutions)
• Strong analytical, writing, and research skills, as well as readiness to engage in group debate and independent study

Seminar; a combination of lectures and interactive exercises

• Class participation and presentations (15%); class discussions 10%
• 1st and 2nd written assignments 20 %
• Final Project 55%

• Class work: Students are expected to participate actively in class based on their reading and watching documentary films and working materials before sessions. The aim is to create genuine debate and to make space for questions, doubts, sharing experiences, and ultimately develop personal projects
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 8 hours a week / 96 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 6 hours a semester maximum
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 3 Individual assessments prepared through the Semester, including the Final Project: 50 hours a semester