International Human Rights
Past Offerings
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International Human Rights (5010): This comprehensive class is designed to enhance understanding of both the theoretical foundations and practical application of international human rights law. It is structured to provide an in-depth exploration that combines academic theory with the realities of implementing human rights law on a global scale. The first segment of the course is dedicated to the fundamentals of human rights law. This includes an examination of the international human rights movement and the theory and origins of the international law of human rights. Students will study a range of UN treaties covering civil and political rights, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as conventions against gender and racial discrimination, children's rights, and the prohibition of torture. The course will consider both the substantive law and the strategies for its implementation. It will critically analyze the UN institutional mechanisms for promoting human rights implementation, exploring both the root causes and the varied outcomes of these efforts--where the system has failed and where it has succeeded. Transitioning into the second half, the seminar will focus on the populations affected by international human rights law, moving from theory to the examination of current situations. This shift is aimed at applying the principles learned to contemporary issues, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the international human rights regime. By the end of this course, students will have developed a robust understanding of the concepts, mechanisms, and challenges of human rights law, and will be equipped with the analytical tools to actively engage in current debates and contribute to the field of human rights law and its implementation. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, written assignments, and final paper. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students may request enrollment by sending a statement of interest to the instructor. Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Undergraduates who wish to enroll in this course must have completed HUMRTS 101 as a prerequisite. This course is cross-listed with Human Rights (HUMRTS 117) and International Policy (INTLPOL 355).
Sections
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2023-2024 SpringSchedule No Longer Available
International Human Rights (5010): This comprehensive class is designed to enhance understanding of both the theoretical foundations and practical application of international human rights law. It is structured to provide an in-depth exploration that combines academic theory with the realities of implementing human rights law on a global scale. The first segment of the course is dedicated to the fundamentals of human rights law. This includes an examination of the international human rights movement and the theory and origins of the international law of human rights. Students will study a range of UN treaties covering civil and political rights, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as conventions against gender and racial discrimination, children's rights, and the prohibition of torture. The course will consider both the substantive law and the strategies for its implementation. It will critically analyze the UN institutional mechanisms for promoting human rights implementation, exploring both the root causes and the varied outcomes of these efforts--where the system has failed and where it has succeeded. Transitioning into the second half, the seminar will focus on the populations affected by international human rights law, moving from theory to the examination of current situations. This shift is aimed at applying the principles learned to contemporary issues, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the international human rights regime. By the end of this course, students will have developed a robust understanding of the concepts, mechanisms, and challenges of human rights law, and will be equipped with the analytical tools to actively engage in current debates and contribute to the field of human rights law and its implementation. Elements used in grading: Attendance, class participation, written assignments, and final paper. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students may request enrollment by sending a statement of interest to the instructor. Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Undergraduates who wish to enroll in this course must have completed HUMRTS 101 as a prerequisite. This course is cross-listed with Human Rights (HUMRTS 117) and International Policy (INTLPOL 355).
Sections
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2023-2024 WinterSchedule No Longer AvailableThis class section has been cancelled!
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2023-2024 WinterSchedule No Longer AvailableThis class section has been cancelled!
International Human Rights (5010): In part as a result of the rise of international human rights mechanisms in the twentieth century, conflicts over resources, privileges and power are now increasingly mediated through the lens of human rights, in terms of the protection of individual or group rights. Given that many of the most significant and complex national and international challenges today center on fundamental questions of human rights, understanding the legal regime that governs these rights is an important part of a comprehensive legal education. This course serves as an introduction to the law, theory and practice of international human rights, together with the instruments, organizations and arrangements that affect their implementation and enforcement. It will explore human rights as a philosophical and legal concept, and briefly probe differences between human rights, civil rights, and development frames. The course will then focus on the legal regime through which sovereign states have established human rights instruments and doctrine as part of positive international law, sometimes with binding domestic legal effects. We will review the foundations and history of international human rights law; the major international and regional human rights instruments and institutions; mechanisms and strategies of enforcement; and selected current issues in the field. A limited number of students have the option to write a long research paper in lieu of the final exam with consent of instructor. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer from section (01) into section (02), which meets the R requirement, with consent of the instructor. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, Exam or Research paper. This course is cross-listed with Human Rights (HUMRTS 117) and International Policy (INTLPOL 355). Advanced undergraduate and graduate students may request enrollment by sending a statement of interest to Professor Achiume (achiume@law.stanford.edu). Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Sections
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2022-2023 WinterSchedule No Longer Available
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2022-2023 WinterSchedule No Longer Available