LAWS6019International Human Rights Law

Course handbook

Description

This course is designed to expose students to the theory, law and practice of human rights protection. It is primarily concerned with international law, however students will have several opportunities to explore the interaction between international and domestic human rights protections, and consider Australia’s interactions with international human rights law. The course begins with a consideration of human rights theory and the international human rights framework. It proceeds with investigation of how human rights can be protected and enforced, primarily through the lens of the United Nations human rights systems. Students will have the opportunity to explore special interest topics, including the rights of Indigenous peoples, the rights of refugees, and the rights of women. The course will conclude with an exploration of the roles and responsibilities of lawyers in relation to human rights protection, and activities focused on human rights law reform. International Human Rights Law is taught as a blended course. Students will be required to attend 2 hour seminars weekly throughout the 12 weeks of semester. Students will also complete online learning modules in advance of each week’s seminar.

Availability

Not currently offered.

This Course was last offered in Semester 1 - 2023.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate integrated knowledge and understanding of the international human rights framework, its origins and justifying theories;

2. Demonstrate high-level capacity to assess how specific human rights may be asserted, enforced or violated;

3. Demonstrate advanced skills in critically evaluating the relationship between international and domestic law on human rights;

4. Demonstrate critical understanding of the role of lawyers in human rights protection and professional capacity to contribute to ongoing processes of law reform;

5. Demonstrate advanced skills in legal research, evaluation, oral and written communication, and advocacy.

Content

The topics in this course include the following:  

1. Origins and theories of human rights
2. International framework of human rights law
3. Protection and enforcement of human rights - the United Nations human rights system
4. State-level protection of human rights principles - Australia's human rights law and practice
5. Special topics in human rights, including the rights of Indigenous peoples, refugees and women
6. Lawyers’ roles in relation to human rights
7. Human rights law reform

Requisite

To enrol in this course students must currently be enrolled in one of the following programs:

[12333] Master of Laws

[12334] Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (JD)

[12340] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12341] Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12342] Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12343] Bachelor of Aboriginal Professional Practice/Bachelor of Laws(Honours)

[12346] Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12347] Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Diploma of Legal Practice

[12348] Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40036] Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40037] Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40129] Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40130] Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40150] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40188] Bachelor of Global Indigenous Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40189] Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40270] Bachelor of Criminology

[40272] Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40279] Bachelor of Coastal and Marine Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40280] Bachelor of Biomedicine/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40290] Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[50005] Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[50016] Juris Doctor

Assumed knowledge

LAWS6000 Legal System and Method I, and LAWS6001 Legal System and Method II

LAWS6002A Torts Part A, or LAWS6120 Torts I

LAWS6002B Torts Part B, or LAWS6121 Torts II

LAWS6003A & LAWS6003B Criminal Law & Procedure Part A & B, or LAWS6130 Criminal Law & Procedure

LAWS6004A Contracts Part A, or LAWS6140 Contracts I

LAWS6004B Contracts Part B, or LAWS6141 Contracts II

LAWS6005 Property

Assessment items

Participation: Attendance: It is a compulsory requirement for students to attend at least of seminars.

Online Learning Activity: Quizzes within online learning modules

Presentation: Presentation and Case Report

Written Assignment: Written mock government inquiry submission

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.