International Human Rights Law

Building on the knowledge in international law already acquired, the course aims to provide students with a general understanding of international and regional systems for the protection of human rights, their origins, how the institutions charged with monitoring human rights protection actually operate, the outcomes achieved, and the factors that hinder the achievement of a more complete integration (that should focus on the human being and the protection of human dignity, irrespective of political divergences and developmental disparities between states).
Specific cases will be debated constantly in the class with the aim of fostering a critical understanding of the most recent developments. In particular, teaching will focus on the current role and limitations of human rights law in international relations in the face of repeated and mass violations, and will highlight the dialectical relationship within legal systems between national security and the protection of the individual, which is often used to justify the restriction of certain human rights.

Upon completion of the course, students will understand the legal frameworks in place for the protection of basic human rights and the legal remedies available at an international and regional level. They will also be able to apply that knowledge to specific cases in order to demand that those rights are respected and protected, and will be able to express their arguments with due legal reasoning and precise vocabulary.
By actively participating in classroom activities, students will also learn to critically evaluate complex international legal issues concerning the workings of international systems for the protection of human rights, including issues arising from current events. They will also learn to identify any critical issues that arise in terms of international relations and the relationships between international and domestic law. These skills will prove particularly valuable to students intending to work for international organisations, in diplomacy or in international relations in general.