LL4AX      Half Unit
Selected Topics in International Human Rights Law

This information is for the 2024/25 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Margot Salomon

Availability

This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Human Rights and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

 

This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.

Course content

This course explores international human rights law through a range of contemporary topics. We consider international human rights law and issues such as water, property, sexuality, and indigenous rights to land and resources. This course also investigates overarching tensions that help us situate human rights in wider socio-economic and political context. Here we tend to engage with human rights and resistance, the fragmentation of international law, and current developments at international human rights institutions. Through the study of relevant concepts, norms, processes and debates, students are encouraged to develop an informed and critical assessment of the significance of international human rights law as a force for emancipatory change.

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the Winter Term. 2 hours of seminars in Spring Term.

There will be a reading week in week 6 of WinterTerm.

Formative coursework

One 2,000 word essay.

Indicative reading

O de Schutter, International Human Rights Law: Cases, Material and Commentary (CUP); P Mecklem, ‘Human Rights in International Law: Three Generations or One’? 3 London Review of International Law 1 (2015); C Clark, 'Of What Use is a Deradicalized Human Right to Water?' 17 Human Rights Law Review 2 ( 2017); W Schabas, 'The Omission of the Right to Property in the International Covenants' 4 Hague Yearbook of International Law (1991); J Kozma, M Nowak and M Scheinin, A World Court of Human Rights - Consolidated Draft Statute and Commentary (Neuer Wissenschaflicher Verlag, 2010)

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes) in the spring exam period.

Key facts

Department: Law School

Total students 2023/24: 28

Average class size 2023/24: 29

Controlled access 2023/24: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Communication
  • Specialist skills