Program Overview

Course Profile

General Course Information

The course code is LLAW3086, and the course name is International and Regional Protection of Human Rights. This course is offered under the LLB Programme and is scheduled for the second semester. It is not designated as a research course and does not have a specialization. There are no prerequisites or co-requisites for this course, and it is not offered to non-law students. The course is worth 6 credits.

Course Description

This course examines the evolution of international standards of human rights within the United Nations system and the mechanisms established to promote their enjoyment. The topics covered include the development and content of the International Bill of Rights, the major United Nations human rights treaties, and the work of the United Nations treaty bodies. The Charter-based mechanisms of the United Nations, including the Commission on Human Rights and its thematic and country-specific procedures, will be examined. Particular attention will be given to the relevance of these mechanisms to the Asian-Pacific region.

The European, Inter-American, and African regional systems for the protection of human rights will also be considered, including the work of their supervisory organs. The possibilities for Asian regional or sub-regional human rights machinery for the protection of human rights will also be examined.

Course Teachers

• Course convenor: Jiahui Duan
  • Office: CCT 508
  • Consultation: By email

Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

1. Identify the sources of international human rights law, including key multilateral treaties as well as bodies of soft law principles/rules, and understand key concepts.
2. Understand the basic functions of the main institutions, enforcement mechanisms, and processes that comprise the system for the protection of human rights at the global level (including United Nations treaty and charter-based bodies) and discuss current debates about their effectiveness and ability to prevent and remedy violations of human rights.
3. Identify and understand the functions of key treaties and enforcement mechanisms which comprise the African, European, and Inter-American human rights systems.
4. Discuss issues related to the development of a regional human rights framework in the Asian context and propose and debate possible scenarios for establishing an effective system based on lessons from the existing regional human rights bodies.
5. Develop writing and critical thinking skills and participate actively in class discussion.
6. Achieve a basic understanding of the content of selected substantive rights and categories of rights, and/or current human rights topics, and how these rights have been interpreted by global and regional human rights bodies.

Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

• PLO A
• PLO B
• PLO C
• PLO D
• PLO E
• PLO F

The following Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are mapped to the Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

• CLO 1: PLO A, PLO B, PLO C, PLO D, PLO E, PLO F
• CLO 2: PLO A, PLO B, PLO C, PLO D, PLO E, PLO F
• CLO 3: PLO A, PLO B, PLO C, PLO D, PLO E, PLO F
• CLO 4: PLO A, PLO B, PLO C, PLO D, PLO E, PLO F
• CLO 5: PLO A, PLO B, PLO C, PLO D, PLO E, PLO F
• CLO 6: PLO A, PLO B, PLO C, PLO D, PLO E, PLO F

Assessment

Assessment Summary

• Assessment task: To be advised
• Weighting: 100%
• Feedback method: To be determined by course teacher
• Course learning outcomes: CLO 1, CLO 2, CLO 3, CLO 4, CLO 5, CLO 6

Assessment Detail

To be advised by course convenor(s).

Grading Criteria

To be advised.

Learning Activities

Learning Activity Plan

• Seminar: 3 hours/week for 12 teaching weeks
• Private study time: 9.5 hours/week for 12 teaching weeks

The normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (i.e., 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of the classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.

Details of Learning Activities

To be advised by course convenor(s).

Learning Resources

• Reading materials: Reading materials are posted on Moodle
• Core reading list: To be advised
• Recommended reading list: To be advised