SYLLABUS
General description
This course aims to provide a comprehensive and analytical account of the application
of human rights standards in international law, and the operation of the existing
international machinery for the protection of human rights. Likewise comparisons are
also drawn with regional attempts to promote and protect human rights, with the
European system, the Inter-American system, the African system and Arab League
system receiving special attention as regards their treaties, their institutions, procedure,
and case-law. The course is designed to be both theoretical and practical.
Academic term
From January, 27th to May, 29st.
Evaluation
Evaluation is divided into three items:
Practical assessments 10% (1 point of 10) → Every two or three weeks of the
term, students should read carefully the materials corresponding to the lessons
and answer the given question or make the requested comment.
This regular task must have at least a half page length.
Once the work is done, it must be send to the teacher.
Every two or three weeks, students will find the specific task related with the
corresponding lessons in “Tareas”.
Presentation of project 30% (3 points of 10) → Students should read carefully
the following material: Chapter 34 of the book Confessions of an Economic Hit
Man, of John Perkins. The material is in “Recursos”.
After reading the chapter, each student should choose a country or territory,
where there is a conflict, which leads to a violation of human rights, fuelled by
natural resources or where there is a foreign intervention (via private
corporations, via public agencies, or both) in order to obtain substantial
contracts, as the ones described by the author in this book.
You have until March, 1st to decide your country or territory.
Once you have chosen the country or territory, please let me know by email the
country or territory about which you are going to prepare your project. Wait
until my confirmation by a reply email to begin the elaboration of the paper.
In the Chapter 34, there are many examples but you may choose any other State,
territory, nation, people…
The project must contain -formally presented- at least the following information:
- Introduction of the topic.
- Parties involved in the conflict or the contract.
- Present problems and future prospects.
- Conclusions.
- Bibliography.
The project should be finished and sent by email before May, 8th.
Multiple Choice Exam 60% (6 points of 10) → The final exam will consist in 20
questions. Each correct question values 0.3 points and every wrong question
discounts -0.1 points.
Agenda
Historical development of international human rights. Human Rights Law. UN
protection of human rights: International Bill of Rights and sectorial conventions.
Regional protection of human rights. International humanitarian law. International
criminal law. International terrorism. Business and human rights.
Learning outcomes
Know the contents, limits, and protection mechanisms of human rights. Analyze issues
of human rights. Analyze information on violation of human rights from a legal point of
view.