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Course

Human Rights Law and Advocacy - JURD7582

Faculty: Faculty of Law

School: Faculty of Law

Course Outline: See below

Campus: Kensington Campus

Career: Postgraduate

Units of Credit: 6

EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 4

Enrolment Requirements:

Pre-requisite: 36 UOC of JURD courses for students enrolled prior to 2013. For students enrolled after 2013, pre-requisite: 72 UOC of JURD courses.

Excluded: LAWS3182

CSS Contribution Charge: 3 (more info)

Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule

Further Information: See Class Timetable

View course information for previous years.

Description

This course involves an examination of the fundamental legal standards and institutions of international human rights, through the medium of contemporary human rights concerns. It will familiarize you with the basic principles of international human rights law and the mechanisms for its enforcement. Particular attention will be given to current issues such as terrorism, globalisation and its impact on economic and social rights and the changing role of the United Nations. Special attention is also given to the expanding role of multinational corporations in the global economy, the death penalty, genocide, "cultural relativism", the protection of human rights in Australia and the role of non-government organizations in promoting and protecting human rights. The course will benefit from the input of several guest speakers on discrete topics. This course is part of a general offering of human rights and social justice topics within the UNSW Law School and aims to provide students with an introductory approach to human rights.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

At the end of this course students should:
  • Have a sound knowledge of the main legal concepts and principles of international human rights law
  • Explain in your own words the meaning of legal concepts, doctrines and principles we have studied
  • Analyse the primary sources of human rights law
  • Demonstrate an ethical understanding of the nature of human rights law and be aware of on-going and future issues in the area of human rights
  • Demonstrate your ability to think critically and to justify your ideas in a reasoned manner, rather than purely by way of dogmatic assertions or emotional responses communicate effectively in speaking and in writing

Main Topics

  • What are human rights? Contemporary concerns with human rights
  • Framework of the international human rights system
  • Major international human rights instruments and their enforcement
  • Other thematic topics covered year to year include: Genocide and the responsibility to protect; Death penalty; Human rights and terrorism: clash between rights and security; Universalism and cultural relativism; Human rights in Australia; Refugees: international standards and protections; International law of equality and discrimination; Globalisation and human rights; and UN reform

Assessment

Class participation 15%
Research essay 40%
Exam 45%

Course Texts

Prescribed
Steiner, Alston and Goodman International Human Rights in Context; Law, Politics and Morals Oxford University Press, 3rd ed

Recommended
Refer to reading list in the course guide. The further reading listed each week is optional and is not contained in the Course Materials. It is available online or at the UNSW Law School Library references. If you are seeking resources, you can obtain assistance from the UNSW Library. One starting point is: http://info.library.unsw.edu.au/web/help/help.html

Law Books

Study Levels

Undergraduate Study Postgraudate Study Postgraduate Research Study Non-Award Study

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