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Global Health and Human Rights (POPH90244)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
October
nicole.turner@unimelb.edu.au katherine.gilbert@unimelb.edu.au
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: MSPGH Website
- Email: Enquiry Form
Overview
Availability | October - Dual-Delivery |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This interdisciplinary subject provides a grounding for students of public health on the normative content and interpretations of the right to health (and supporting rights). The subject explores the principles and practical applications of a rights-based framework for the health needs of diverse population groups, including children, women, indigenous people, people with mental illness or disability, and refugees and asylum seekers. It engages with contemporary debates and critiques on the credibility, relevance and utility of human rights for health policy and program decisions. It also explores the confronting linkages between rights violations and health harms, as well as rights infringements that improve public health.
The conceptualisation of health as a human right can be traced through the formation of the United Nations, the World Health Organization Charter, and the Alma Ata Declaration on primary health care. More recently, it has underpinned social mobilisation for the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, of people living with disabilities, and of GLBTI communities and individuals. This subject draws on diverse case studies including issues such as: climate disruption; sexual and reproductive health; conflict and humanitarian emergencies; tobacco control; obesity; access to medicines; nuclear disarmament; and harmful practices. The subject is facilitated by a team of recognised experts in different areas of human rights and health. It aims to demonstrate how rights considerations are relevant and can be useful in any sphere of health policy and practice, and inspire students on the possibilities for further investigation, action and advocacy to advance both global health and human rights.
Global Health and Human Rights is a dual delivery block mode intensive subject. This means that the assessable material is delivered through self-directed online modules that students complete over a two-week period. The online modules offer flexibility in relation to the timing of when students complete them, or what hours of the day you may choose to study. However, allocated modules must be completed in time to allow effective participation in live interactive sessions that are linked with those modules. Live interactive sessions are held on six days across the two-week period, in which module material is discussed with fellow students and lecturers. Students may choose to attend these live sessions online or face to face. Students are expected to commit approximately 40 hours to learning each week, comprised of learning modules, reading, discussion board activities, group work and live sessions. This two-week teaching period is followed by group work and independent learning towards three pieces of assessment to be completed over six weeks.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Apply the ethical and legal underpinnings of human rights concepts to diverse areas of public health in a global context;
- Interpret the relationships between human rights and health, demonstrating an appreciation of the potential for tensions between and need to balance competing rights;
- Analyse the human rights dimensions of public health needs and challenges in diverse contexts, and how these relate to: diverse population groups; different types of health conditions; and global issues with important planetary health implications;
- Evaluate different strategies for incorporating respect for human rights in research methodologies;
- Apply a consideration of and respect for human rights in the development, implementation and evaluation of public health policies, programs and practices;
- Demonstrate skills for advocating for public health approaches, policies and practices that are human rights enhancing.
Generic skills
- Apply critical thinking and analysis
- Apply problem-solving abilities
- Find, evaluate and use relevant information
- Persuasively argue a case using written and oral communication skills
- Undertake collaborate group work
Last updated: 31 January 2024