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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL/LAW 230"
COURSE NAME: "Human Rights"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2019
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Lyal Sunga
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on understanding what human rights are and what are the challenges to their realization. Students will examine what specific protections ought to be granted to vulnerable groups, like women, children, stateless persons, refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. The special challenges related to the protection of human rights in an age of globalization, and the challenges to human rights protection posed by terrorism and its consequences are also analyzed. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to examine different cases and understand the main human rights issues at stake.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

 

1. Religious and Philosophical Notions of Human Dignity and Human Rights
2. The Emergence of Westphalian State Relations, Minority Rights and Freedom of Religion
3. Enlightenment Individualism, Liberalism and Socialist Contributions
4. Feminist Perspectives, the Human Rights of Women and the Girl Child and Gender Equality
5. World War Two: How and Why Human Rights became a Matter of International Legal Concern
6. The UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Multilateral Human Rights Treaties
7. Genocide, Racial Discrimination, Gender Equality, Torture, Arbitrary Detention, Summary Executions
8. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
9. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
10. The UN and Regional Systems of Human Rights Promotion and Protection
11. Does International Human Rights Translate into Reality at Local Levels?
12. Current Issues in Human Rights: Universality, National Security and Privacy, Free Speech, Violence against Women, Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief, Refugees and Migrants
13. Relationship among Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law
14. Human Rights, Armed Conflict and International Criminal Law
15. Review
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Solid introductory level knowledge of the development, principles and application of human rights law
2. Appreciation of political factors that condition human rights promotion and protection
3. Enhanced capacity to identify and analyze current situations involving human rights issues
4. Understanding of strengths and weaknesses of human rights law, implementation and advocacy
5. Development of analytical and argumentation skills on current human rights issues
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Human Rights: A Very Short IntroductionAndrew ClaphamOxford9780198706168     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm ExamDue 10 October 2019: 75-minute exam comprising several essay questions, possibly with some multiple-choice questions20%
Class ParticipationComing to class prepared and contributing thoughtfully to class discussion10%
Research OutlineDue Tuesday 8 October 2019: 2-3 pages: Submission of Topic, Outline and Concept of the Research Paper10%
Research Paper10 to 12-page paper on a human rights issue (approved by the instructor by e-mail) of around 4000 words Due 21 November 201925%
Final Examination2½ hour comprehensive exam with essay questions - December Exam Period35%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This course focuses on understanding what human rights are and what are the challenges to their realization. Students will examine what specific protections ought to be granted to vulnerable groups, like women, children, stateless persons, refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. The special challenges related to the protection of human rights in an age of globalization, and the challenges to human rights protection posed by terrorism and its consequences are also analyzed. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to examine different cases and understand the main human rights issues at stake.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Required: Andrew Clapham, Human Rights: A Very Short Introduction: Second Edition, Oxford (2015) (197 p)

 

Reports and Links

Author

Publisher

ISBN

Understanding Human Rights: Manual on Human Rights Education 2012

Austrian Development Cooperation

Intersentia

978-1-78068-057-6

An Introduction to International Human Rights Law 2010

Chowdhury Md.  Jahid  Hossain  Bhuiyan

Brill

978-90-04-17972-1 

World Report 2018

Human Rights Watch

HRW

978-1-60980-814-3

United Nations Human Rights Report 2018

OHCHR

UN

none

Amnesty International Report 2018: The State of the World’s Human Rights

Amnesty International

AI

978-0-86210-499-3

World Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders (December 2018)

Michael Forst

 

 

UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

 

 

 

European Union Human Rights and Democracy

 

 

 

Inter-American System of Human Rights

 

 

 

African Comm’n on Human and Peoples' Rights

 

 

 

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights