2016/17 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
LAW5864M Global Human Rights Advocacy
30 creditsClass Size: 25
Module manager: Prof Oliver Lewis
Email: o.lewis@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2016/17
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
The module explores the theory and practice of international human rights advocacy. It provides students with skills to use human rights laws and mechanisms to challenge human rights violations and achieve social justice outcomes. The module includes an international human rights clinic, providing an opportunity for students to be placed in an international human rights NGO where they will learn about advocacy in practice.Objectives
At the end of this module, students will be aware of and have a clear understanding of:1. the complaints procedures and enforcement mechanisms that exist in the various UN, African and European human rights treaties;
2. the key elements required for an effective strategic litigation and advocacy strategy to address human rights violations;
3. the range of remedies available and the importance of implementation strategies to address complex multi-layered human rights violations (such as those experienced by persons with disabilities and other disempowered minorities);
4. the debates that have critically analysed the effectiveness of using human rights litigation to address deep-seated social inequalities;
5. harnessing print, TV and radio media, and how to use digital communication platforms, within advocacy strategies;
6. how to work with the key stakeholders involved in human rights interventions, including private sector lawyers.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this module, a student should be able to:
1. challenge human rights violations by identifying relevant international human rights provisions and then articulating these violations in the language of these provisions;
2. determine the most appropriate international human rights forum for remedying these violations (e.g. judicial, quasi-judicial or committee)
3. develop and evaluate international human rights advocacy strategies that seek to provide effective remedies for the human rights violations;
4. effectively use media and social media as part of advocacy strategies;
5. evaluate the impact, and ethical considerations, of human rights interventions.
Syllabus
The first part of the course consists of four (three hour) seminars . The first three will be completed before the students commence their studies in the international human rights legal clinic. The final seminar will be held towards the end of the semester when the students can reflect on their learning in the clinic.
Seminar 1: Policy advocacy
Overview of the course: Reading, assessments, expectations about student participation including presentations during the seminars and the international human rights legal clinic element, how to give and receive feedback, reflective practitioner skills.
Rhetoric to rights: Examining why human rights are not sometimes implemented, and what lawyers and NGOs can do about that, advocacy strategies, enforcement and remedies in international and domestic laws
The practice of UN and regional advocacy: advocating before the Human Rights Council, treaty bodies, special procedures and organs such as the World Health Organization: emphasising working with grassroots NGOs, developing shadow reports, face-to-face advocacy, using concluding observations
Seminar 2: Strategic litigation
Objectives, forum shopping, client selection, client support, risk management, drafting, responding to opponents, publicity, post-litigation advocacy. Procedure before the European Court of Human Rights: procedure, third party interventions, tactics, remedies, execution of judgments. The seminar will commence with student presentations – addressing the seminar topic.
Seminar 3: Building solidarity
Media: Understanding the ways journalists work, interview skills, producing press releases and holding press conferences, media tracking.
Digital platforms: Using tools such as Facebook and Twitter for human rights advocacy, crowdsourcing support, building solidarity with the public.
Pro bono: How NGOs can work with law firms who provide pro bono legal assistance, how to set up win-win projects. The seminar will commence with student presentations – addressing the seminar topic.
Seminar 4: Reflection (towards the end of the semester)
A workshop that reflects on the challenges the students have encountered in the international human rights legal clinic.
Partnerships: Intersectional advocacy, building strong coalitions, collaboration management, psychology and politics of co-production.
Ethics and effectiveness: Professional v. first person advocacy, when litigation goes wrong, impact evaluation. The seminar will commence with student presentations – addressing the seminar topic.
The second part of the course deploys students into the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre (MDAC – an international human rights NGO which Oliver Lewis directs. Working in teams the students collaborate on a project for MDAC, the output being a 20-page brief. The projects will vary, but could, for example, involve preparing a draft submission to be used in a MDAC case before the European Court of Human Rights, or a shadow report to a UN treaty body. During the second part, there will be four reflective tutorials, to consolidate and share the learning.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Group learning | 1 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| Seminar | 4 | 3.00 | 12.00 |
| Tutorial | 4 | 2.00 | 8.00 |
| Private study hours | 180.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 120.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300.00 | ||
Private study
10 hours preparation for each of the 4 seminars = 40 hoursIn addition, 20 hours preparation for oral presentation (student semester presentations) = 20 hours
120 hours essay
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 4,000 words | 50.00 |
| Presentation | 1x seminar presentation | 20.00 |
| Reflective log | 1x 2,500 words | 30.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 13/01/2017
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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