LW911-7-AU-CO:
European Convention on Human Rights I
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
25 September 2019
Requisites for this module
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This module offers a foundation on the protection of human rights in Europe through the particular lens of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The course is taught in memory of the late Professor Kevin Boyle who died in 2010. He ran this course for years and who was one of the leading academics, practitioners and teachers on the European Convention on Human Rights. His groundbreaking work significantly shaped the interpretation of the Convention and the practice of the European Court of Human Rights.
The module aims to provide you with a strong overview of the system of human rights encapsulated by the Convention, its achievements and the challenges and constraints it currently faces as well as a detailed understanding of Convention law and the practical application of key procedural and substantive articles and protocols to the Convention. The module examines the history of the application of the Convention by the European Court of Human Rights and how the Court is changing due to the pressures on the system through reform, interpretative approaches, pilot judgments and a focus on subsidiarity and national remedies. The module also addresses the key stages of the litigation of a case, dealing with jurisdiction and admissibility, just satisfaction and enforcement and key substantive articles.
At the end of the module, you will have acquired an understanding of the issues which have arisen with regard to the interpretation of many civil and political rights and of the reasoning of one particular human rights tribunal, the European Court of Human Rights. The Court’s jurisprudence is of importance not only in and of itself, but also in relation to human rights guarantees in the domestic law of Council of Europe member states and the work of other human rights mechanisms (outside of Europe, regional and international) dealing with similar problems. Its jurisprudence now has worldwide influence. In addition, you will have begun to learn how to examine the facts of a particular situation and to identify the possible human rights issues raised.
Week Topic
2 (w/c 7th October) Introduction and overview of the ECHR system (CN)
3 (w/c 14th October) Article 2: Right to life (CN)
4 (w/c 21st October) Article 3: Prohibition of torture (CN)
5 (w/c 28th October) Right to respect for private life (CN)
6 (w/c 4th November) Article 6: Right to a fair trial & Article 13: Right to an effective remedy (NV)
7 (w/c 11th November) Article 14: Freedom from discrimination (CN)
8 (w/c 18th November) Articles 9 & 10: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion & Freedom of expression (CN)
9 (w/c 25th November) Reading week
10 (w/c 2nd December) Article 5: Right to liberty and security (NV)
11 (w/c 9th December) Reforming the ECHR (NV)
The module will be taught in nine weekly two-hour sessions. Each class will involve a presentation on themes of the class but class participation is heavily encouraged through questions and debate. As would be expected from a Court that has issued thousands of landmark cases, the reading is case-heavy and even then is only illustrative. In class, we will critically examine the significance of the cases and the way in which they have contributed to the promotion and protection of human rights in Europe. We will look at trends and approaches of the Court as well as critically assessing gaps and limitations in the jurisprudence.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Charilaos Nikolaidis, email: hnikol@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Charilaos Nikolaidis & Dr Nikos Vogiatzis
lawpgtadmin@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 16 (88.9%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Essex Law School
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