2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW2143 Foundations of International Human Rights Law

10 creditsClass Size: 33

Module manager: Dr Ilias Trispiotis
Email: I.Trispiotis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

This module is mutually exclusive with

LAW2142

International Human Rights Law

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will lay the foundations for the study of international human rights in relation to civil and political rights. Within the framework of international law, the subject matter will explore the United Nations led treaty and Charter based models of standard-setting and monitoring of human rights obligations accepted by States. It will examine also some significant regional human rights bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights. The module will consider the right to life (in particular the question of the death penalty) and the prohibition of torture. It approaches these contemporary problems by considering how international human rights law is applied and questions whether it comprises a developed system of law.

Objectives

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the foundational ideas and frameworks that constitute international human rights. Upon completion of the course it is anticipated that students should be able to:

- examine the subject of international human rights law and explore particular areas of interest, including the right to life, particularly in relation to the death penalty and the prohibition of torture.
- to analyse the structure of mechanisms of protection of international human rights under the United Nations, in particular the work of the Human Rights Council and the Special Procedures of the UN, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture.
- to appreciate the nature of international human rights law, and be able to evaluate its achievements as well as the challenges;
- to recognize and discuss the debates as to the nature of international human rights laws, and be able to evaluate those arguments in the context of particular (contentious) areas, such as the use of torture on the war on terror.
- to recognize that increasingly international human rights law regulates behaviour and impacts on law and policy within States.
- to foster global and cultural insight: the module explores moral values, norms and responsibilities that apply at the local and global levels to the relations between states, international organisations and individuals, as well as groups. Cosmopolitanism and its assertion of human rights being at the centre of considerations of international law and politics is a key concept of the module. Global justice through implementation of human rights standards and monitoring of states is a core concern and so is universality and inalienability.

The module considers rather than just a Euro-centric approach a more diffuse one with insights and contributions by the Global South. By incorporating discussions and developments by UN agencies and also regional ones such as the Council of Europe and African Commission of Human Rights, the course content is able to explore different cultural perspectives to problems. The work of international civil society is also considered.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module the students will be expected to have a thorough understanding of the applicable rules and legal procedures in the areas studied and be able to propose arguable solutions to concrete problems (either actual or hypothetical) in light of such analysis.

Syllabus

1. The idea of international human rights
2. The human rights systems of the UN, Council of Europe, the African and American Human Rights Commissions
3. The Right to Life
4. The Prohibition of Torture

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	3	1.50	4.50
Private study hours			85.50
Total Contact hours			14.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

The students will be expected in assessed work to show understanding of key concepts and law-making in international law. They will be expected to apply these concepts and analyse them to specific questions and scenerios. The marking of assessed work will clearly reward good and well developed argument, hence they will be required to carry out independent research and develop their own critical thinking.

50 hours - 10 hours reading and reflection following each lecture.
50 hours - preparation for writing essay.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The module will be assessed through 1 X 2,500 word essay (100%)

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 X 2,500 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 26/03/2019

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