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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 324"
COURSE NAME: "Human Rights"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2014
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Silvia Scarpa
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to the main issues related to the human rights regime that emerged after the end of World War II, focusing in particular on: understanding what human rights are, which are the challenges posed by globalization and how the specific needs of certain vulnerable groups can be taken into consideration.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will begin with an introduction to the nature and source of human rights, it will discuss about their universality, and it will continue examining the specific challenges posed by globalization, poverty and development to the specific realization of economic and social rights. The protection that needs to be granted to vulnerable groups, including inter alia women, children, refugees and asylum seekers will be analyzed and certain human rights will be studied. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to examine the various cases and understand the main human rights issues at stake
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By completing this course students are expected to be able to understand and properly refer to the international human rights regime, its historical development and its main achievements, to critically analyze the main official documents in this field and to recognize the challenges that it still has to face.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| International Human Rights | Jack Donnelly | Westview Press | 9780813345017 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Mid-term exam | Essay questions | 25% |
| Advocacy Plan | Group work + essay (2,000 words minimum) | 25% |
| Final Exam | Essay questions | 25% |
| Attendance and class participation | Attendance is compulsory | 10% |
| Oral presentation | In-class oral presentation of group work | 15% |
-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:
Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to contribute to class discussions.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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WEEK
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TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
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READING ASSIGNMENTS
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Week 1 (January 13 and 15)
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Introduction to the Course. What are human rights (HR)? HR as an Issue in World Politics.
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Donnelly, Ch. 1-2 and Appendix (UDHR).
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Week 2 (January 20 and 22)
January 20: last day to add/drop a class
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· The (Relative) Universality of Human Rights and the multilateral politics of human rights.
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· Donnelly, Ch. 3.
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Week 3 (January 27 and 29)
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The Domestic Politics of HR.
Universal and Regional Multilateral Mechanisms.
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Donnelly, Ch. 4.
Donnelly, Ch. 5, 6 and 7.
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Week 4 (February 3 and 5)
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Con’t.
Transnational actors in the field of HR: NGOs and MNCs
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Donnelly, Ch. 5, 6 and 7.
Donnelly, Ch. 10 and 11.
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Week 5 (February 10 and 12)
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The death penalty: abolitionists versus retentionist countries, arguments for and against it.
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AI Report 2013, p. 3-11 and 48-51; AI Campaigning Toolkit; Bedau & Cassell on reserve at the library, Chapter 7.
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Week 6 (February 17 and 19)
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Gender-based violence: pre-natal sex selection
Child rights and child marriage.
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Bumgarner (focus on parts II, III and IV).
World Vision Report.
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Week 7 (February 24 and 26)
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Con’t and summary.
February 26: Mid-term Exam
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Week 8 (March 3 and 5)
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The right to water.
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UNDP Report, p. 1-24.
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Week 9 (March 10 and 12)
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Refugees and asylum seekers. Refugees versus migrants.
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UNHCR, Chapters 1, 2 (skip p. 26-30) and 4; UNHCR_Refugees v. migrants, p. 4-11; 16-21; 25-29.
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Week 10 (March 17 and 19)
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Spring Break
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Week 11 (March 24 and 26)
March 28: last day to withdraw from a class.
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Globalization, the State and HR.
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Donnelly, Ch. 14.
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Week 12 (March 31, April 2 and 4)
April 4: make-up day for April 21
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Terrorism v. HR.
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Donnelly, Ch. 15.
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Week 13 (April 7 and 9)
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Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect
APRIL 7: DEADLINE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF ADVOCAY PLANS.
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Donnelly, Ch. 13; Weiss, Tutu.
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- Week 14 (April 14 and 16)
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Students’ presentations
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Week 15 (April 23)
April 21: holiday.
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Con’t.
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Week 16 (April 26 – May 3)
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Final exam.
Date TBA
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LIST OF READING MATERIALS
Amnesty International, Death Sentences and Executions 2012 (AI, 2013).
Amnesty International, Death Penalty: The Ultimate Punishment (AI, 2008).
Bedau H. A. and Cassell P. G., Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment (Oxford University Press, 2004).
Bumgarner A., “A Right to Choose? Sex Selection in the International Context” 14 Duke Journal of Gender Law and Policy (2007) 1289-1309.
Tutu D., “Taking the Responsibility to Protect” The New York Times (November 9, 2008).
UNDP, Human Development Report 2006 (UNDP, 2006).
UNHCR, UNHCR and International Protection (UNHCR, 2006).
UNHCR, “Refugee or Migrant: Why it Matters” 148/4 Refugees (2007) p. 4-11; 16-21; 25-29.
Weiss, “Humanitarian Interventions in a New Era” 11/1 World Policy Journal (1994) 59-68.
World Vision, Before She’s Ready (World Vision, 2008).
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