SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Program: B.A., LL.B (Hons.) 8101 & B.B.A., LL.B (Hons.) 8102 Semester: VI (Batch 2023-28)
Module: Human Rights Module Code:
Teaching Scheme Evaluation Scheme
Lecture Practical Tutorial Credit Term End Examinations
Internal Continuous
(Hours per (Hours (Hours (TEE) (Marks- 50
Assessment (ICA)
week) per per week) in Question Paper)
(Marks - 50)
week)
3 0 1 3 Marks Scaled to 50 Marks Scaled to 50
Pre-requisite: Public International Law, Constitutional Law and Law of Crimes.
Objectives
1. To provide a general introduction to the law, theory, and practice of domestic and
internationally recognized human rights.
2. To provide students with an informed and critical perspective on international instruments
and institutions such as the United Nations, and domestic legal arrangements relating to the
articulation and implementation of human rights.
3. To understand the scope of human rights in various jurisdictions and have a comparative
perspective on the subject.
4. To identify the normative framework on human rights aimed at protecting groups such as
women, children, migrants and refugees.
5. To analyze the emerging challenges in the implementation of human rights
Outcomes:
1. To Understand and interpret the various norms, theories and conventions on human rights,
its standards at different levels and its moral and philosophical rationale. (PLO1a.)
2. To identify a human right and differentiate it from other rights or moral values. (PLO 1a.)
3. To chart the appropriate response to such violation through identification of the apt
enforcement mechanism and procedure. (PLO 2a.)
4. To identify a situation involving a question of human rights violation and examine it
through the lens of sociology. (PLO3a.)
Detailed Syllabus: (per session plan)
Unit Description: Duration Hours
1. Fundamentals of Human Rights: 3 Hrs.
1. Philosophical and historical foundation of human rights and duties
2. Human Rights in India, the tradition of Human Rights in Indian context:
ancient, medieval and modern
3. Three generations of Human Rights
4. Universalism versus Cultural Relativism
Basic Reading:
H.O. Agarwal Chapter 1.
Reference Reading:
1. The Philosophic Foundations of Human Rights by Jerome J. Shestack, UN
archives [Link]
archives/b/4/3/b43f2a6d377fdc81a87552910a4d20e4d95ae3b41162d4b08b1946a
77e17bb29/[Link]
2. Cultural Relativism and Universal Human Rights by Jack Donnelly
[Link]
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Teaching Pedagogy: Discussion
2. Foundation of International Human Rights 3 Hrs.
1. The Cyrus Cylinder (539 B.C.)
2. Magna Carta
3. United States Declaration of Independence
4. The Bill of Rights
5. French Declaration of the Rights of Man
6. The First Geneva Convention (1864)
Basic Reading:
Rokeya, Begum. (1997). Human Rights- An Overview in Historical Perspective,
Sociological Journal, J.S.D. Volume - 12 No 1, Dhaka
Reference Readings:.
1. What are human rights? – Council of Europe
[Link]
#A%20historical%20outline
2. History of international human rights law
[Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Constructivism
3. Core Human Rights Instruments-I 3 Hrs.
1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights &
Optional Protocols (ICCPR)
3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights & the
Optional Protocol (ICESCR)
(Rationale and importance of these instrument in the development of Human
Rights)
Basic Reading:
H.O. Agarwal Chapter 2 and 3; bare acts of the conventions
Reference Readings:
1. The long and influential life of UDHR (2016) available at
[Link]
2. Christopher Harland, 'The Status of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR) in the Domestic Law of State Parties (2002) HeinOnline
[Link]
[Link]/HOL/P?h=[Link]/hurq22&i=198
Teaching Pedagogy: Discussion
4. Core Human Rights Instruments-II 3 Hrs.
4. Convention against Torture (CAT)
5. Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against
Women (CEDAW)
(Rationale and importance of these instrument in the development of Human
Rights)
Basic Reading:
Chapter 4 and 5 H.O. Agarwal; bare acts of the conventions
Reference Readings:
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
1. Human rights of women in india and the cedaw: an analytical perspective Dr.
Karavi Barman [Link]
2. 40 years of the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against
women - Christine Chinkin and Keina Yoshida (LSE 2020)
[Link]
[Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Discussion
5. Core Human Rights instruments-III 3 Hrs.
6. International Convention on Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
(ICERD)
7. Convention on Rights of Child (UNCRC)
8. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
(Rationale and importance of these instrument in the development of Human Rights)
Basic Reading:
Chapter 5 H.O. Agarwal; bare acts of the conventions
Reference Readings:
The UNCRC: The Voice of Global Consensus on
Children’s Rights? (2018)
[Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Discussion
6. United Nation System and Human Rights- I 3 Hrs.
Composition, Functions of different organs of United Nations and their
Achievement/ influence on international human rights
General Assembly
Security Council
Secretariat
Basic Reading:
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Flipped Classroom
7 United Nation System and Human Rights- II 3 Hrs.
Composition, Functions of different organs of United Nations and their
Achievement/ influence on international human rights
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
Trusteeship Council
Basic Reading:
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Flipped Classroom
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
8. United Nation System and Human Rights –III 3 Hrs.
Composition, Functions of different organs of United Nations and their
Achievement/ influence on international human rights
United Nation Economic Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Basic Reading:
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Flipped Classroom
9 Human Rights Bodies 3 Hrs.
Difference between Treaty based bodies and Charter based bodies
Charter Based Bodies
Human Rights Council
Universal Periodic Review
Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
Basic Reading:
1. UN website and manuals
2. UN Human Rights Documentation
3. [Link]
Reference Readings: What are Treaty Bodies:
[Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Discussion
10 Regional Human Rights Standards and Implementation I 2 Hrs.
African Charter
European Convention on Human Rights
European Court of Human Rights
Basic Reading:
[Link]
[Link]
Reference Readings:
[Link]
DROI_ET(2010)410206_EN.pdf
Teaching Pedagogy: Constructivism
11 Regional Human Rights Standards and Implementation II 2 Hrs.
Inter-American Convention on Human Rights
ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights
Basic Reading:
[Link]
[Link]
Reference Readings:
[Link]
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
DROI_ET(2010)410206_EN.pdf
Teaching Pedagogy: Constructivism
12 Regional Human Rights Standards and Implementation III 2 Hrs.
Cases:
1. Suarez Peralta v Ecuador, Inter-American Court of Human Rights (2013)
2. Case of Garib v The Netherlands (2017)
3. Opuz versus Turkey (2009)
4. Khamila Isayeva versus Russia (2007)
5. Rantsev versus Cyprus and Russia (2010)
Basic Reading:
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
177406&filename=CASE%20OF%20GARIB%20v.%20THE%20NETHERLANDS.p
df&logEvent=False
Reference Readings: [Link]
content/uploads/2013/02/Suarez-Peralta-v.-[Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Constructivism
13 Human Rights in India- I 3 Hrs.
Directive Principles of State Policy, Fundamental Duties, Public Interest
Litigation
Derogable and non-derogable rights under the Indian Constitution.
Contemporary challenges to safeguarding fundamental rights in India
Basic Reading: [Link]
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Collaborative approach
14 Human Rights in India- II 2 Hrs.
Issues related to Dalits, Tribal Groups, and Religious Minorities
Custodial violence
Safety of Women
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Basic Reading:
[Link]
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Collaborative approach
15 Enforcement And Protection Mechanism of Human Rights in India- I 3 Hrs.
Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
Basic Reading:
[Link]
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Discussion
16 Enforcement And Protection Mechanism of Human Rights in India- II 2 Hrs.
Women’s Commission
SC/ST Commission
Minority Commission
Basic Reading:
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
[Link]
uman_Rights_viz_a_viz_Fundamental_Rights_in_India
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Discussion
17 Domestic Governance of Human Rights in India 2 Hrs.
Analysis of India’s obligations towards various international Human Rights
instruments
Role of Judiciary in protecting Human Rights
Basic Reading:
[Link]
Reference Readings: [Link]
Teaching Pedagogy: Blended learning
Total 45 Hrs.
Text Books:
1. Dr. H.O Agarwal: Human Rights (Central Law Publications,
(2018).
2. Human Rights in International Law, Collected Texts - 2nd Edn.,
First Indian Reprint) Council of Europe Publishing
Reference Books:
1. The Law of Human Rights, by Azimkhan B. Pathan, Deepak Kumar Srivastava
1st Edition, 2017
2. Human Rights and Good Governance: National and International Perspectives
by J L Koul, Manoj K Sinha
List of Tutorials:
1. Buzz groups will discuss about the recent human rights violations in India and steps taken by the
government to curb the menace of such violations.
2. Streaming of Short films related to Human Rights
3. Talking Circle / Word Wheels: Participants are divided in two groups, one sitting in a circle facing
outward and the other facing inward so that each person faces someone else. T h e s e pairs then
exchange views on an announced topic.
4. Dramatization: Image Creation: Ask a volunteer to name a human rights problem from her or his own
experience. The volunteer then uses the other participants to build an image of this problem.
5. Field Visits to places where human rights issues develop (e.g., prisons, hospitals, international borders,
urban centers) or where people work to stop abuses or relieve victims (non-profit organizations,
government offices, homeless or battered women’s shelters.
6. Interviewing: Interviewing provides direct learning and personalizes human rights issues and history.
Those interviewed might be family, community members, activists, leaders, experts, or witnesses to
human rights events. Participants need to be clear on the goals and desired outcomes for their
interviews and to prepare in advance with key questions.
7. Newspapers, news magazines, and news programs on radio or television can serve as excellent
learning tools. Ask participants to analyze the media for stereotypes, prejudices, and different
treatment of similar stories.
8. Organizing lectures from resource persons who have expertise in various issues related to Human
Rights.
SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies
Name of School – Kirit P. Mehta School of Law
Any other information:
1. The course shall contain 15 hours of tutorials, as per tutorial guidelines.
i) 7 out of 15 hours of Tutorials to be used for ICA – Group Discussion (GD).
ii) The remaining 8 hours of tutorials will be used for the proposed tutorial plan.
2. Latest Updated Statutes, Act, Rules and Regulations and Case Law to be taught after discussion in Multi-
Campus Program Coordination (MPC) Meeting.
Details of Internal Continuous Assessment (ICA): 50 Marks
Description of ICA Marks
Test 1 20
Quiz 10
Group Discussion 10
Class Participation 10
Total Marks 50
Signature Signature
(Prepared by Ms. Siddhi Singh) (Approved by Dr. Durgambini Patel Dean)
Date: 6th April, 2024(27th BOS)