Global Health Law (LAWS70151)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5Not available in 2021
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
Overview
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Health inequalities represent the most enduring and consequential global health challenge of our time. A child born in sub-Saharan Africa, for example, will live on average nearly 30 years less than a child born in Australia. This subject provides students with a firm understanding of the role of international law in promoting, or harming, human health. It covers ‘hard’ law such as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as well as ‘soft law’ such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. The lecturer brings into the discussion multiple international fields that powerfully affect health, such as trade, agriculture and climate change, and covers pressing topics including emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (like Zika, Ebola and influenza) and the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. The central theme running throughout the discussions will be global health justice. The subject uses innovative teaching tools to highly engage students, including case studies and real-life simulations.
Professor Lawrence Gostin is an internationally renowned scholar in international public health law at Georgetown University and has recently published a definitive and ground-breaking book on this subject (Global Health Law, Harvard University Press, 2014).
This subject will provide students with an in-depth understanding of global health law and examine the major contemporary problems in global health, the principal international legal instruments governing global health and the principal international organisations and innovative solutions for global health governance in the 21st century. It will cover naturally occurring infectious diseases, past and future epidemics, bioterrorism events (eg anthrax or smallpox) and/or major chronic diseases caused by modern lifestyles (eg obesity or tobacco use).
Principal topics include:
- Health in a globalised world
- The ‘grand challenges’ in global health
- National security and global health: national interests, enlightened self-interest and health diplomacy
- International health law: the WHO International Health Regulations and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
- Health and human rights
- World trade and world health
- Innovations in global health governance: towards a framework convention on global health.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have analysed and critically reflected on the legal, economic, political and public health policy concepts relevant to global public health law
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the major institutions and organisations affecting global health, including intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and foundations
- Have examined and have a clear understanding of the international legislative and political processes and how the processes influence the creation and implementation of global health law commitments
- Understand the theoretical framework surrounding contemporary forms of international law relating to global health, including the WHO International Health Regulations, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, World Trade Organization (WTO) treaties and international human rights
- Have developed expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills to independently assess and explain the most pressing contemporary problems in global health and innovative solutions for global health governance.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into a relevant Melbourne Law Masters program
OR
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
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: 12 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 17 October | 90% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2021
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: 12 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 12 November 2022