Unit information: International Law VI: International Law and Human Rights in 2013/14

Unit name	International Law VI: International Law and Human Rights
Unit code	LAWDM0020
Credit points	30
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Murray
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	University of Bristol Law School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The principal object of this unit is to introduce students to the range of mechanisms operating at the global (UN) level and regional level(excluding the European Convention on Human Rights) that aim at the protection of human rights. Although the focus is on procedural aspects of human rights law, we will also examine a number of substantive rights, such as prohibition of torture, the death penalty and collective rights, which shed light on the interrelationships between the various institutions and mechanisms.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to explain:

1. the principles of international human rights law;0
2. the institutional structure of international human rights law, the law-making and decision-making processes; and, in particular, the United Nations charter and treaty body mechanisms, the Inter-American, Asian and African human rights systems
3. specific themes relating to international human rights law including prevention of torture, the death penalty and collective rights.

Students should be able to state the law accurately, to apply legal principles to problem case scenarios, and to think critically about ways in which the law could be reformed.

The examination includes both problem type and essay type questions, designed to assess both whether students were able to understand and apply the law across the breadth of the syllabus, and whether they were able to think critically about it.

Teaching Information

Eleven seminars of two hours each.

Assessment Information

3 essays

coursework 1 - 20%

coursework 2 - 40%

coursework 3 - 40%

Reading and References

1. de Schutter, International Human Rights Law. Cases, Materials and Commentary, Cambridge University Press, 2010
2. Steiner, Alston and Goodman, International Human Rights in Context, 3rd edition, Oxford University Press, 2007. Excellent source and reference work but can be a little difficult to use if new to subject. Also now a little out of date.
3. Rehman, International Human Rights (2nd edition, Longman Pearson, 2009). Provides a useful general overview but not sufficient on its own.
4. Smith, Textbook on International Human Rights, OUP, 4th edition, 2009 (although a new edition is due out in 2011). Again, a recent text but more of an overview than providing the detail you require
5. Moeckli, International Human Rights Law, OUP, 2010. A good introduction but rather general. Again, you need to look at other things beyond this.
6. C Tomuschat, Human Rights. Between Idealism and Realism, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2008"