LAW - 626 Human Rights Law

(3 hrs.)

The purpose of this class is to provide an overview of current international human rights law and the mechanisms for its implementation and enforcement. First the course will focus on the general principles of international human rights law. Second students study the functioning of the universal human rights system (United Nations) and the regional human rights systems. They then concentrate on the normative foundation of international human rights law through the study of a selected group of rights, including the rights to life, women’s rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. Finally, in the fifth segment, regarding international criminal law we will discuss the jurisdiction of international criminal tribunals, and the role of national institutions in dealing with past human rights violations.