Unit information: Human Rights in Law, Politics and Society in 2017/18

Unit name	Human Rights in Law, Politics and Society
Unit code	LAWD30125
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Greer
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

This unit will cover the following topics: the history of the human rights ideal and its contested status in western debates about law, politics and society; the increasing internationalization and globalization of human rights; arguments about the universality and cultural limits of human rights; the profile of human rights in the world's two main rivals to the western model (Islam and 'Chinese/Asian values'); attempts to sanction human rights violations through judicial processes (including the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court); and some sharp contemporary debates, including over the profile of human rights in economic development, aid and trade, in responses to terrorism, and in armed conflicts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit a successful student will be able to:
• Describe key international instruments relating to child rights and welfare and to the processes through which they are implemented.
• Demonstrate skills in the effective use of electronic databases and libraries which are key sources on children’s rights in international law.
• Explain key concepts in private international law relating to child abduction and intercountry
• Employ the Hague Conventions on Abduction and child protection with relevant case law to scenarios relating to cross border disputes relating to individual children.
• Analyse how International Treaties can further and protect the rights of children, individually and collectively.
• Organise and integrate information to provide an evidence based account of children’s rights at specific places and times and in relation to child labour, exploitation and trafficking.
• Assess the effectiveness of specific international organisations and treaties in protecting and furthering children’s right

Teaching Information

Ten one-hour lectures and ten two-hour seminars.

Assessment Information

Reading and References

• J. Donnelly, Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice (Cornell University Press, 3^rd edn., 2013), hereafter ‘Donnelly, 3^rd edn’.
• J. Donnelly, International Human Rights: Dilemmas in World Politics, (Westview Press, 4^th edn., 2012), hereafter ‘Donnelly, 4^th edn’.

Other texts to which frequent reference is made include:

• M. Goodhart, Human Rights: Politics and Practice (Oxford University Press, 3^rd edn., 2016).
• I. Bantekas & L. Odette, International Human Rights Law and Practice (Cambridge University Press, 2^nd edn. 2016).
• M. Frezzo, The Sociology of Human Rights (Polity, 2015).
• O. De Schutter, International Human Rights Law: Cases, Materials, Commentary (Cambridge University Press, 2^nd edn., 2014).
• C. Tomuschat, Human Rights: Between Idealism and Realism (Oxford University Press, 3^rd edn., 2014).
• M. Freeman, Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Polity, 2^nd edn., 2011).
• J. Rehman, International Human Rights Law (Pearson, 2^nd edn., 2010).
• A. Fagan, Human Rights: Confronting Myths and Misunderstandings (Edward Elgar, 2009).