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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 324"
COURSE NAME: "Human Rights"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 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 and controversies of the human rights
regime that emerged after the end of World War II, focusing in particular on:
understanding what human rights are, which challenges are posed by
globalization and terrorism and how the specific needs of certain
vulnerable groups can be taken into consideration by it.
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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 analyze their universality, and it will continue examining the
specific challenges posed by globalization to the specific realization of
economic and social rights and by terrorism to the one of civil rights. The
protection that needs to be granted to vulnerable groups, including inter alia
women, children, refugees and asylum seekers will be analyzed and specific human
rights will be studied. Dilemmas arising in case of conflicts among human rights will also be taken into consideration. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to understand
the main human rights issues at stake in all these circumstances.
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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. Finally, they will have conducted group work and research on a specific topic of their choice for the purpose of drafting an advocacy plan.
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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:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Debating the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment | Bedau H. A. and Cassell P. G. | Oxford University Press | 0195169832 | | |
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% |
| Oral presentation | In-class oral presentation of group work. | 15% |
| Class Participation | Attendance is compulsory and students shall participate to class discussions. | 10% |
-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, to read assigned reading materials before classes 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 (September 1 and 3)
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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 (September 8 and 10)
September 8: last day for late
registration/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 (September 15 and 17)
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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 (September 22 and 24)
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Con’t.
Transnational actors in the
field of HR: NGOs and MNCs
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Donnelly, Ch. 10 and 11.
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Week 5 (September 29 and October 1)
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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 (October 6 and 8)
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Trafficking in persons, the
smuggling of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Refugees versus migrants.
October 8: Mid-term Exam
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Bhabha and Zard; Gallagher; 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 7 (October 13 and 15)
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Gender-based violence:
pre-natal sex selection
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Bumgarner (focus on parts
II, III and IV); Dickens.
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Week 8 (October 20 and 22)
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Child rights and child
marriage.
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World Vision Report.
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Week 9 (October 27 and 29)
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The right to water.
October 31: Diplomacy Barcamp “A Call for Ideas on Fighting against
Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants”.
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UNDP Report, p. 1-24; Meier
and Others.
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Week 10 (November 3 and 5)
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Globalization, the State and
HR.
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Donnelly, Ch. 14.
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Week
11 (November 10 and 12)
November 14: last day to withdraw from
a class
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Terrorism v. HR.
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Donnelly, Ch. 15.
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Week
12 (November 17 and 19)
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Humanitarian Intervention
and the Responsibility to Protect
NOVEMBER 17: DEADLINE FOR THE
SUBMISSION OF ADVOCAY PLANS.
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Donnelly, Ch. 13; Weiss,
Tutu.
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Week
13 (November 24 and 26)
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Students’ presentations
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Week 14 (December 1 and 3)
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Students’ presentations
Con’t and final summary.
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Week
15 (December 6 - 12)
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Final exam.
Date TBA
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LIST OF READING MATERIALS
Amnesty International. Death Sentences and
Executions 2012. Amnesty
International, 2013.
Amnesty International. Death Penalty: The Ultimate Punishment. Amnesty International,
2008.
Bedau, H. A., and P. G. Cassell, eds. Debating
the Death Penalty: Should America Have Capital Punishment? The Experts on Both
Sides Make Their Case. Oxford University Press, 2005.
Bhabha J. and Zard M. “Smuggled or Trafficked?” Forced Migration Review 25
(May 2006): 6-8.
Bumgarner, A. "Right to
Choose: Sex Selection in the International Context, A." Duke J. Gender
L. & Pol'y 14 (2007): 1289.
Dickens, B. M. "Can sex selection be ethically
tolerated?." Journal of Medical Ethics 28.6 (2002): 335-336.
Gallagher A. “Trafficking, Smuggling and Human
Rights: Tricks and Treaties” Forced Migration Review 25 (May 2006):
25-28.
Meier, B. M., et al. "Translating the human right to water and
sanitation into public policy reform." Science and engineering ethics
(2014): 1-16.
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” Refugees 148/4 (2007): 4-11;
16-21; 25-29.
Weiss, “Humanitarian Interventions in a New Era” World Policy Journal 11/1 (1994): 59-68.
World Vision, Before She’s Ready. World Vision, 2008.
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