F1HH 4510 - Case Studies on Human Rights Protection: Through the Looking Glass of the UN Security Council

Through a number of case studies, the course will look into the friction that exists between the conflicting claims for non-interference in domestic affairs and for adherence to the international human rights standards states are expected to observe. The course will look into the political vs legal and internal vs external nature of these frictions. The course will address these issues through an examination of the practice of human rights promotion and protection at the UN Security Council by looking into a number of case studies involving serious human rights concerns: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Libya and Syria. The course will also examine the role of the Security Council in the promotion of human rights and accountability for mass atrocity crimes through the establishment of special tribunals and referrals to the International Criminal Court as well as the serious human rights and due process concerns raised by its use of generalized or targeted sanctions.

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will acquire a deep learning of the powers, practice, and procedure of the most powerful body in the world, a close understanding of the tools and mechanisms available to the Council and its members, and an appreciation for the political dynamics at play within and beyond the Council.
• Students will also have the opportunity to refine skills in policy-grade memo-writing, presenting and defending facts and viewpoints in inter-agency settings, and applying the knowledge acquired to actual agenda items in both a written and oral exercise.

There is no strict prerequisite for this course but students should preferably have some previous knowledge of human rights and contemporary events.

Seminar, interactive discussion with students actively participating and contributing to the class. Best policy memos will be presented by the students and discussed in class.

• One 2,500-word policy memo addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General making the case for increased human rights protection in any situation on the agenda of the Security Council - 70% of the final grade.
• Participation in an advocacy mock session 20%
• class participation 10%

• In class presence: 2 hours per week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester
• Assignment 1- Mock UNSC Session Preparation and Participation: 2 hours a week plus 2 hours presentation / 50 hours a semester
• Assignment 2- UNSC Policy Memo: 4 hours a week: 48 hours a semester

Total : 146 hours.