International Human Rights Law

Code: ECN14690D

12 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/312 hours

Scientific Area: Legal-Political Theory and International Relations

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: B-learning

Presentation

The UC seeks to give an exhaustive knowledge of International Human Rights Law

Sustainable Development Goals

Erradicação da pobreza - Acabar com a pobreza em todas as suas formas, em todos os lugares

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

Trabalho decente e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

Redução das desigualdades - Reduzir as desigualdades dentro dos países e entre eles.

Paz e Justiça - Paz, justiça e instituições eficazes promover sociedades pacíficas e inclusivas par ao desenvolvimento sustentável, proporcionar o acesso à justiça para todos e construir instituições eficazes, responsáveis
e inclusivas em todos os níveis.

Learning Goals

The CU aims to provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of International Human Rights Law (IHRL). The CU will focus on the historical evolution of IHRL, through the study of the main international treaties, the customary law and the procedures of international protection of Human Rights. The CU will also approach some challenges that IHRL has to face in the contemporary world, such as migration, climate refugees, R2P, sustainable development, fundamentalism and new nationalisms.

Part I. Genesis and historical evolution
- From national protection to international protection
- From Universal Declaration to International Treaties.
- The main sources of IHRL

Part II. The Human Rights
- Civil and political rights
- Economic, social and cultural rights
- Discriminations: gender, race, minorities.
- The violation of human rights: torture, genocide, crimes against humanity

Part III - The Human Rights Protection System
- The Role of the UN
- Non-state actors and NGOs
- The international criminal justice

Part IV. Challenges of ILHR in the contemporary world
- IHRL and the Responsibility to Protect
- IHRL and Migrations
- IHRL and sustainable development
- IHRL in the face of nationalism and fundamentalism

Teaching Methods

The CU is based on the coexistence of two learning methodologies. While traditional teaching aims to provide students with the key theoretical knowledge, active participation techniques will be implemented, either individually or through group work. Thus, the methodological and research skills of the students will be implemented and students will be permanently supervised. Sections of shared reading and debate on selected texts are also foreseen. Regarding assessment, students will prepare a paper on a topic proposed by the teacher (50%) and an article on a topic chosen by the doctoral student (50%).