HU901-7-FY-CO:
Human Rights: Theories and Applications

The details
2023/24
Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
20 October 2023

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

MA L3MV12 Theory and Practice of Human Rights,
MA L3MV24 Theory and Practice of Human Rights,
MA L3MVMO Theory and Practice of Human Rights

Module description

The principal purpose of HU901 is to provide the core interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary component of postgraduate teaching of human rights within the Human Rights Centre.

Module aims

The syllabus is designed to provide a broad and deep knowledge and understanding of essential elements of both the theory and the application of human rights within a complex world. The module extends across twenty teaching weeks.

Module learning outcomes

Satisfactory attendance of and participation in the teaching components of HU901 should enable all students to achieve the following:

• Have gained knowledge and understanding of the principal theoretical perspectives upon human rights.
• Have gained knowledge and understanding of the basis and scope of human rights principles.
• Have gained knowledge of and an appreciation for the principal critical perspectives upon the theory and application of human rights principles.
• Be able to critically evaluate specific human rights claims, utilising different theoretical perspectives from several academic disciplines.
• Be cognizant of the relationship between key aspects of human rights theory and the practical application of human rights principles.
• Have gained knowledge and understanding of the specific perspectives afforded by the academic disciplines of government, law, philosophy and sociology.
• Have gained knowledge and understanding of key contemporary issues and debates within human rights practice.
• Have acquired the methodological skills required for independent research in the study of human rights.
• Have acquired and developed an inter and multidisciplinary perspective upon human rights.
• Have developed verbal presentational skills in a class/seminar setting.

Module information

Week Two: An Introduction to Human Rights (Dr. Andrew Fagan)

Week Three: – IHRL (1) Legal Approach to Human Rights and the Basis of International Human Rights Law (Dr Tara Van Ho)

Week Four: (2) - Key International and Regional Human Rights Treaties, and the role of the Treaty Bodies (Dr Gus Waschefort)

Week Five: IHRL (3) – Key Institutions and Bodies (Dr Gus Waschefort)

Week Six: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Prof. Lars Waldorf)

Week Seven: Introduction to Transitional Justice and Human Rights (Prof. Lars Waldorf)

Week Eight: Introduction to Humanitarianism and Human Rights (Dr Clotilde Pegorier)

Week Nine: Reading Week – no lecture or discussion groups this week

Week Ten: Political Perspectives upon Human Rights: Political Theory (Prof. Michael Freeman)

Week Eleven: Political Perspectives upon Human Rights: Political Science (1) (Dr Ahmed Shaheed)

Week Sixteen: Political Perspectives upon Human Rights – Political Science (2) – Applications and Challenges (Dr Ahmed Shaheed)

Week Seventeen: Sociological Approaches to Human Rights (1) – Prof. Yasmin Soysal

Week Eighteen: Sociological Approaches to Human Rights (Prof. Colin Samson)

Week Nineteen: Sociological Approaches to Human Rights (3) – Horizontal Inequalities, Human Rights, and Social Identity Theory (Dr Tuba Turan)

Week Twenty: Psychosocial Perspectives, Trauma and Human Rights (Prof. Renos Papadopoulos)

Week Twenty-One: Philosophical Approaches to Human Rights (Dr Andrew Fagan)

Week Twenty-Two: Philosophical Approaches to Human Rights – Applications and Challenges (Dr Andrew Fagan)

Week Twenty-Three: Philosophy & Human Rights - Autonomy and Disability Rights (Professor Wayne Martin)

Week Twenty-Four: Reading Week - No lecture or discussion groups this week.

Week Twenty-Five: Multi and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Human Rights (Dr. Andrew Fagan)

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be taught via weekly 2-hour seminars. The module teaching team will upload all relevant teaching materials on Moodle. You will find reading lists, the textbook, weekly handouts or PPS notes on Moodle. The materials in question are designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the seminars and to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your seminars.

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Autumn Essay (HU901 Human Rights: Theories and Applications)     50% 
Coursework   Spring Essay (HU901 Human Rights: Theories and Applications)     50% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Ahmed Shaheed, email: ashaheed@essex.ac.uk.
Law Education Office, pgtlawqueries@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
No
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 36 hours, 36 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)

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