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Women, Peace and Security (LAWS90124)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2019
Overview
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In 2000 the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the first time considered the impact of war on women through the adoption of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). This has been followed by seven further resolutions, thereby creating an institutional agenda that encompasses women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution, protection of women from sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, and humanitarian relief and recovery for survivors of sexual violence. The subject will critically examine the WPS agenda, its place in contemporary conflicts and its basis in international humanitarian law, international criminal law and human rights law.
The lecturer, Professor Christine Chinkin, has a long academic record in international law, especially the human rights of women. She is currently Director of the Centre for Women Peace and Security at the London School of Economics and has practical experience through advising UN and Council of Europe bodies and a House of Lords select committee on sexual violence in conflict, as well as having been a member of fact-finding missions in Gaza, Malawi, Mali and Colombia.
Principal topics include:
- The concepts of new wars and human security
- The evolution of the women, peace and security agenda
- The status of women, peace and security as a legal regime
- Women and war
- The four ‘pillars’ of women, peace and security.
- Participation of women in peace processes and peacekeeping operations
- Prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and in so-called peacetime
- Prevention of armed conflict
- Protection against sexual violence in conflict
- Post-conflict reconstruction
- Women peace, and security and countering violent extremism
- Implementation of WPS through national action plans
- Addressing sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have a critical understanding of the legal and policy framework of the Security Council's Women, Peace and Security agenda
- Have a critical understanding of the gendered nature of conflict; of gendered violations of law committed in armed conflict and responses to those violations
- Have an understanding of the interplay between the legal regimes applicable to the Women, Peace and Security agenda, in particular human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law
- Have an understanding of the relationship between WPS and other international agendas
- Have an understanding of the challenges facing governments and civil society in developing and implementing National Action Plans.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
This subject is not available to students who have undertaken the following subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70118 | Women, War and Peacebuilding | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Background in international law or international relations is recommended.
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Class participation (10%)
- 7,500 - 9,000 word research paper (90%) (16 January 2019) on topic approved by the subject coordinator
A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2019
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a first come, first served basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022