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Global Human Rights Law (LAWS20012)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Global human rights law plays a complex role in international society. Human rights often frame national and international discussions about justice and fairness – sometimes to the detriment of any other language or approach. Formally inaugurated with the founding of the United Nations in 1945, the international human rights system comprises multiple institutions, declarations, treaties, court cases and practices. It is fair to say that human rights law has been both a source of great inspiration as well as profound disappointment. This subject aims to introduce students to the legal principles, institutions, and questions, at the heart of the global human rights system and to consider why the language of human rights remains powerful, while also examining its key challenges and critiques in the present. It also aims to move beyond a singular/narrow understanding of global human rights by introducing the students to several (rival) historical projects of global human rights law, including a Third World one.
The subject will consider current issues in global human rights law including:
- The history and institutional structure of the United Nations human rights system
- Different traditions of human rights
- Debates about, and techniques of, implementation of human right obligations
- Regional human rights systems
- Australia’s local translation of international human rights standards
- Human rights and Global Corporations
- Human rights, non-discrimination, and intersectionality
- Indigenous peoples and human rights
- Human rights, global inequality, and redistributive justice
- The human rights of asylum seekers and stateless persons
- Human rights and the Environment Debates about human rights universality
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed the subject should have:
- Obtained a general knowledge of the international human rights legal instruments and institutions
- Acquired an understanding of various theoretical and historical approaches to human rights
- Developed a capacity to identify accountability for human rights in contemporary events
- Analysed and applied human rights law in a range of current contexts
- Developed advocacy skills through the application of human rights law to current social problems; and
- Understood both the potential and limits of global law and institutions in responding to human rights abuses, through developing the skill of critical evaluation..
Generic skills
- On completion of this subject, students should have developed skills in: • Reading inter-disciplinary material in preparation for class; • Analysing conceptual and practical human rights problems through a legal lens; • Using legal norms as the basis for advocacy; • Writing clearly for assignments; and • Verbal communication through group discussions in tutorials.
Last updated: 1 December 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNIB20009 | Human Rights and Global Justice | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
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: 1 December 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Participation in weekly tutorial exercises, as well as contribution to discussion boards (minimum four posts throughout the teaching period) | Throughout the semester | 15% |
2x Multiple-choice Quizzes (1h per quiz)
| During the teaching period | 5% |
Mid-term Assignment (advocacy writing)
| From Week 4 to Week 6 | 30% |
Final Essay
| End of semester | 50% |
Last updated: 1 December 2023
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
- Completion rate. Students who started their course from 2022 and are in a CSP or receiving a HELP Loan (eg FEE-HELP) must meet the completion rate to continue to receive Commonwealth Support for that course.
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement, and as a fail toward the completion rate, unless there are approved ‘special circumstances’.
Last updated: 1 December 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Specialist materials may be made available via the LMS.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- 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: 1 December 2023