Introduction to Human Rights and their protection

Description

This course provides an introduction to the emergence, development and contemporary challenges of human rights, humanitarian law and international systems for the maintenance of peace or the restoration of justice.
Students will analyse the process of defining crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, war crimes and genocide, and the mechanisms for their protection, from the emergency logic of the Nuremberg trials after World War II to the institutionalisation of international criminal justice and the different categories of humanitarian intervention: peacekeeping, peacemaking and peace enforcement.

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing students with instruments of knowledge, comprehension, application, evaluation and synthesis on the topic by being able to:                                                          • Outline basic Human Rights;                                             • Explain the historical, political and legal context within which Human Rights evolved;                                             • Explain the historical, political and legal context within which Human Rights evolved;                                             • Define Humanitarian Law, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Genocide;                                                     • Analyse past and present Human Rights violations around the world;                                                                          • Illustrate the range of international instruments concerning Human Right protection;                                                     • Analyse the debate concerning their universal value.

Language of instruction

English

Course type

Lecture

Credits

4 US credits - 6 ECTS

Time

twice a week; 1h 45min