International Law and Human Rights

Course Code: PUBLG052

Course Tutor:  Dr Lisa Vanhala (Department of Political Science)

Assessment: 2 hour unseen written examination

Credit Value: 15

About this course

This course focuses on the role of human rights and humanitarian principles in international law. The course aims to enable students to understand the theory and practice of international law and how this affects one's understanding of human rights and issues of humanitarian concern as articulated in international law. This is a foundational course, but students are expected to engage with complex issues and topics.

Seminars will include theoretical and conceptual discussions as well as sessions that will enable students to tackle doctrinal and interpretative aspects of international law. When completing the course, students will have a solid grounding in international law, will gain problem-solving skills that they can apply to contemporary events in areas of human rights, humanitarian law and international crimes and will be able to critically engage with scholarly work and international case law.