Prospectus

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International Human Rights Law

Course
2015-2016

Admission requirements

Some background in law; sufficient command of English.
Preferably students are familiar with the basics of International Public Law.

Description

This course offers an overview of the main features of international human rights law. It will focus on the United Nations human rights system. After briefly exploring the Charter based part of the UN system we will delve deeper into the treaty based human rights instruments. Since the inception of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the two founding covenants on civil and political rights and on social and economic rights a number of more specialized human rights conventions have come into existence. We will analyze the various monitoring and complaints mechanisms that have been put in place under these conventions and their role in promoting the realization of human rights across the world. We will pay specific attention to several human rights topics of global importance in more detail. The latter will include issues concerning women’s human rights, disability rights, LGTB rights, children’s rights, and social and economic rights.

You are expected to attend lectures and seminars well prepared and to actively engage each other in presentations and discussions.

Course objectives

Objectives of the course

The course will provide an overview of international human rights protection at the UN level with a focus on the treaty based human rights system.

Achievement levels
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:

At the end of this course, you will have – a general understanding of the UN human rights system as a whole – a good understanding of the UN treaty based human rights system and its working – a good understanding of several topical human rights issues and the main contemporary discussions on these issues.

Timetable

The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.

Mode of instruction

Lectures

  • Number of (2 hour) lectures: 5

  • Names of lecturers: Prof. mr. drs. M.L.P. Loenen and guest lecturers

  • Required preparation by students: You are expected to attend lectures and seminars well prepared and to actively engage each other in presentations and discussions.

Seminars

  • Number of (2 hour) seminars: 5

  • Names of instructors: Prof. mr. drs. M.L.P. Loenen

  • Required preparation by students: You are expected to attend lectures and seminars well prepared and to actively engage each other in presentations and discussions.

Other methods of instruction

  • Description:

  • Number of (2 hour) instructions:

  • Names of instructors:

  • Required preparation by students:

Assessment method

Examination form(s)

Written exam, open questions.

Submission procedures

  • Areas to be tested within the exam
    The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.

Blackboard

More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.

Reading list

Obligatory course materials
Literature:
To be announced.

Course information guide:
To be announced.

Reader:
To be announced.

Recommended course materials
To be announced.

Registration

Students have to register for courses and exams through uSis.

Contact information

  • Coordinator: Prof. mr. drs. M.L.P. Loenen

  • Work address: Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden (room B114)

  • Telephone number: 071-527 7760 or 7713 (secretariat)

  • Email: m.l.p.loenen@law.leidenuniv.nl

Institution/division

  • Institute: Public Law

  • Department: Constitutional and Administrative Law

  • Room number secretary: B121

  • Opening hours: 9-17

  • Telephone number secretary: 071-527 7760 or 7713

  • Email: staatsenbestuursrecht@law.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

Contractonderwijs

Belangstellenden die deze cursus in het kader van contractonderwijs willen volgen (met tentamen), kunnen meer informatie vinden over kosten, inschrijving, voorwaarden, etc. op de website van Juridisch PAO.