Unit name | International Law and Human Rights |
---|---|
Unit code | LAWDM0123 |
Credit points | 30 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Dr. Galani |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
The first object of this unit is to introduce students to the range of mechanisms operating at the global (UN) level and regional level (excluding the European Convention on Human Rights) that aim at the protection of human rights. The second object is to examine a number of substantive rights, such as prohibition of torture, sexual orientation and collective rights, which shed light on the interrelationships between the various institutions and mechanisms.
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to explain:
Students should be able to state the law accurately, to apply legal principles to problem case scenarios, and to think critically about ways in which the law could be reformed. The coursework aims to test a range of skills: researching information on a particular state;legal brief;an essay type question.
The contact hours for this unit will be 30 hours. This will usually take the form of: 8 lectures, 10 two-hour seminars and 2 assessment preparation and feedback sessions.
Summative: 2 x 3000 word essays (50% each). Both assessments will assess all of the Intended Learning Outcomes for this unit in the context of topics selected by the examiners.
Formative: students should do one formative assessment (this will usually be 1 x 1500 word essay).
1. Bantekas & Oette, International Law and Human Rights (CUP 2016)
2. De Schutter, International Human Rights Law. Cases, Materials and Commentary (CUP 2014)
3. Steiner, Alston and Goodman, International Human Rights in Context (OUP 2013). Excellent source and reference work but can be a little difficult to use if new to subject.
4. Rehman, International Human Rights (Longman Pearson, 2010). Provides a useful general overview but not sufficient on its own. Also, a bit out of date.
5. Moeckli, International Human Rights Law, OUP, 2014. A good introduction but rather general. Again, you need to look at other things beyond this.
6. C Tomuschat, Human Rights. Between Idealism and Realism, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2008