OADH 4185 - EU Human Rights Law and Policy

The course provides a comprehensive overview of the different mechanisms and instruments that define EU human rights law and policy. At the end of the course, students should:

• Have gained a detailed and multidisciplinary understanding of the position and role of human rights in EU law and policy
• Be able to discuss and debate that position with reference to both theory and practice and across different policy areas
• Be able to frame current developments of relevance within their past evolution and with reference to expert knowledge
• Understand the role of different EU institutions and agencies, as well as civil society organizations, in shaping human rights at EU level
• Understand the politico-institutional realities that define, and sometimes limit, the development of human rights policies at EU level

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse and debate concepts and theories relating to EU human rights policies
• Evaluate present-day EU human rights developments with reference to expert knowledge
• Analyse and debate the role of different actors in the development of EU human rights law and policies
• Develop clear personal opinions on key questions in the area of EU human rights law

Professional Skills

Throughout the course, students will develop and strengthen their team work and project management skills, their writing skills, as well as their critical thinking and general analytical skills. <br<

A prior understanding of EU decision-making processes and/or EU law will provide an added value but is not a necessity.

Students will receive feedback on the presentation via email after all the presentations have been submitted. Feedback on written work will be provided in writing within 2 weeks after submission.

The assessment for this course takes place on the base of four assessment points:

• Active participation in classes which counts for 10% of the grade.
• A group presentation of 10 to 12 minutes on a recent development relating to EU Human Rights Law and Policy. Presentations are to be uploaded in a video format 24 hours before the class.

Presentations will be scheduled throughout the semester and count for 30% of the grade.

• A final academic essay of 3500 words maximum which is due at the end of the semester and counts for 60% of the grade. The final essay will be structured around a question chosen by the student, provided that it links to the topics covered by the course.

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Online learning activities: 1 hours a week / 12 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 4 hours a week / 50 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 1 hours a week / 12 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester