International legal framework

This course focuses on human rights from both a theoretical and practical point of view, studying, on the one hand, the main scenarios, factors and policies that pose a risk to the enjoyment of human rights and, on the other hand, the regional, national and international institutions designed for their protection and enhancement. 

Public sector , international cooperation, international organisations, NGOs,  research or academia, among others.

First Part: Protection of Human Rights

1. The United Nations and Human Rights: bodies and mechanisms
2. Regional Systems: Europe
3. Regional Systems: The Americas
4. Regional Systems: Africa

Second Part: Theory and Concepts – Problems of Human Rights

1. Cosmopolitism and Universalism of Human Rights (Objectivity, International Relations and International Trade)
2. Problems about the grounding of Human Rights (The History of Human Rights from Today to its origins).
3. Human Dignity as a fact and as a Metaphysical Assumption (The Social Rights and the Welfare Society). 
4. Fundamental Rights and Human Rights (Constitutional Guarantees and Postwar imperatives, Balancing Values, Principles and Norms).
5. Concepts of Human and concepts of Right (defining Human Rights).

During the first part, the following list of practices is indicative

• Analysis of case-law
• Commentary on specialized texts and papers

During the Second Part of the course, the lectures will be mainly conceptual, based on the most important theoretical current problems of Humans Rights. Three of these sessions will be devoted to Forum-Debates on topics presented by teams of 5 students. This exercise combines research, teamwork and discussion, public presentation, and debate in defense of team positions. These sessions, will be based on real cases taken from the current press or recent history.

CB1, CB2, CB3, CG3, CG4

CE3, CE4,

-SCHIPPERS, B. (Ed.), (2019): Critical Perspectives on Human Rights: Rowman & Littlefield, New York

-KUROSAWA, F., (2007): The Work of Global Justice. Human Rights as Practices, New York,  Cambridge University Press.

-CAPPS, P., (2009), Human Dignity and the Foundations of International Law; Studies in international Law; Oxford –Portland, Hart Publishing.

-ACCONI, P., DONAT, D., MARCHESI, A., PALMISANO, G., SANTORI, V. (2017), International Law and the Protection of Humanity –Essays in Honour of Flavia Lattanzi-, Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies.

-FORSYTHE, D., (2006): Human Rights in International Relations; New York, Cambridge University Press.

-CABRERA, L., (2004): Political Theory of Global Justice. London – New York, Routledge.  

-MAES, E. (2008): «Constitutional Democracy, Constitutional Interpretation and Conflicting Rights», in Conflicts Between Fundamental Rights –Eva Brems Ed.-, Oxford-Portland, Intersentia.

-CAMPBELL, T. (2006), Rights. A critical introduction, London- New York, Routledge.

-JÄGERS, N. (2002), Corporate Human Rights Obligations: in search of Accountability. Oxford- New York, Intersentia.

-KLEIN, N. (2004), «Reclaiming the Commons», in A Movement of Movements. Is another world really possible?, London, Verso.

- KRAUSE, C.; SCHEININ, M. (2009): Protection of Human Rights: a Textbook. Åbo Akademi University Institute for Human Rights.

- MERTUS, J. A. (2005): The United Nations and human rights: a guide for a new era. London; New York: Routledge.

- LEACH, P. (2005): Taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press

- AROLD, N. L. (2007): The legal culture of the European Court of Human Rights. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers

- PASQUALUCCI, J. M. (2003): The practice and procedure of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

- SMITH, R. K. M. (2022): International Human Rights Law (10^th edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Students must demonstrate a sufficient level of the required general, basic and specific skills to pass the course.

The assessment of the subject in the first call will be the following:

I. First Part (Protection of Human Rights): 50% of the final mark.

b) 20% of the final mark: Practical activities on procedural issues (case analysis, discussion forums...).

a) 30% of the final mark: 20-question test (multiple choice) or 6 open questions at the end of the term.

II. Theoretical Part , Continuous assessment, 50% of the final mark , divided as follows:

- 30% Forum-Debate, team assigned topics exercise (group mark).

- 20% Attendance and participation (personal mark).

Students must suffice at both parts

Continuous assessment: discussion forums, presentations, case-studies, etc.

Final exam

Attend and actively participate in both theoretical and practical classes

Second call:

I. First Part (Protection of Human Rights): 50% of the final mark.

b) 20% of the final mark: Practical activities on procedural issues made during the course (case analysis, discussion forums...).

a) 30% of the final mark: 20-question test (multiple choice) or 6 open questions at the second call.

II. Second Part (Theory and History of Human Rights):  50% of the final mark.

Continuous assessment.

Students must suffice at both parts