Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminar | 3 x 1 Hour Seminars |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours (Open Book Exam) | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Essay (2500 words) | 50% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours (Open Book Exam) | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay (2500 words) | 50% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Know and discuss analytically the principal theoretical and historical foundations of human rights protection, and be critically aware of the evolution of human rights law.
2. Have detailed knowledge of the principal institutions for the protection of human rights, at the universal and European levels, as well as their relative strengths and weaknesses in the protection of human rights.
3. Show detailed knowledge of the independent monitoring processes with regard to human rights, as well as the right of individual petition to human rights bodies and tribunals; show a critical understanding of the significance and methodology of these means of protection.
4. Show detailed knowledge of the principal political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as third generation human rights.
5. Show a critical understanding of the role of culture in the enforcement and protection of human rights.
6. Be able to critically evaluate the legal instruments, cases and concepts considered in the module and demonstrate a detailed understanding of the complexity of the issues involved.
Brief description
The law of human rights includes the philosophical and theoretical bases for such rights, the institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of such rights, and the substantive rights protected.
Content
History of human rights protection
Theoretical foundations of human rights
Institutional mechanisms for the protection of human rights – United Nations and the Council of Europe
Monitoring of States’ protection of human rights
Enforcement of human rights, including the right of individual petition
Substantive human rights: civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; third generation rights
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | n/a |
| Communication | Seminar discussions/activities develop individual and group presentation and oral argument. Essay writing. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Seminar participation and exam preparation develop different aspects of academic research, from understanding and referencing sources through the dissemination of ideas to others orally, and developing written communication skills. |
| Information Technology | Library and research skills are fundamental to preparation for seminars and assessed work. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Recommended topic for any student considering working in government, NGOs, diplomacy, journalism and private law firms that advocate human rights protection. |
| Problem solving | Seminar discussion/preparation and debate. |
| Research skills | Research and preparation for seminars and assessments. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Reading and understanding legal materials particular to the law of human rights. This goes beyond domestic law because it exposes students to international legal materials and methodologies. |
| Team work | Group activities and discussion. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6