Europe enjoys the world's most advanced regional human rights system. Its "jewel in the crown" is the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) of 1950, the world's first and still unique human rights treaty, adopted by the Council of Europe as a reaction to the mass atrocities of the Second World War. 47 States have ratified the Convention; over 50,000 applications have been submitted; some 100,000 cases are pending before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). In recent years, the European Union has also become a major actor in the field of human rights. Europe thus possesses two systems of human rights protection that are complementary and constitute the core of this course. The course provides a general introduction and a discussion of the changing views about the tasks of the ECtHR; it also offers an introduction to human rights in the European Union (EU). In addition, the course will examine "absolute" guarantees (right to life, prohibition of torture), private and family life, the freedoms of expression, of the press and of association; multiculturalism, and the right to property. Finally it will examine prospects and reform of the system.
This course will be of interest to students with an interest in human rights law and how it applies in the regional context of Europe. It will offer a balance of theoretical and practical insights and provide the opportunity for students to engage in research in a dynamic field. As such, it will be of particular interest to those students seeking future employment in the field of government, international affairs, journalism, as well as traditional advocacy work. The course complements other JD course offerings in the area of human rights and international law.
