University for Peace Distance Education

Human Rights

Over a mere 60 years, the international human rights system has become an important part of the legal, moral, and political landscape. Human rights talk is everywhere: it is the language we use to express our needs, our desires, and what we see as our entitlements. It provides a way for us to think about tragic events, a lens through which to view and critique our society, and a set of aspirations that make up the core of liberal ideology. This course is intended to be a short guide through the “babble of international instruments” that make up the text of human rights theory and practice. We will cover the main international legal events, a little history, a little philosophy, and examine the ways in which human rights have and have not been used for the protection of individuals and groups. We will focus primarily on international materials, but will also look at some regional practice. Domestic systems of human rights protection, despite their importance, will not be covered here. Along the way, we will explore multiple perspectives on human rights (liberal, feminist, post-colonial), and ask critical questions about how the international human rights movement has articulated and pursued its goals. The international system for the protection of human rights continues to grow and change, and there are important new developments every year. As such, it is important that students take the initiative to keep up with their research, and seek to use the background and critical thinking skills that they gain in this course to analyse events in the coming years.
Cost $50.0

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