Handbook

This course examines the fundamental legal standards and institutions of international human rights law through the medium of contemporary human rights concerns. It will familiarise you with the basic principles of international human rights law and the mechanisms for its enforcement and provide an exploration off the role of international human rights norms in domestic legal systems (with a focus on Australia).

This course aims to provide students with an introductory engagement with the substance, institutions and techniques of international human
rights law.

The specific topics covered vary from year to year and may include:

• narratives of the history of human rights;
• universalism and cultural relativism;
• the United Nations human rights system;
• regional systems for the protection of human rights;
• techniques of interpretation of human rights;
• the nature of State obligation;
• death penalty;
• freedom of expression;
• economic, social and cultural rights;
• human rights and terrorism: the role of business in protecting human rights;
• domestic implementation of international human rights in Australia.

Main Topics

• What are human rights?
• Who enforces human rights?
• The UN and human rights
• Interpreting rights: techniques and sources
• Business and human rights
• Social media and human rights
• Genocide
• Australia and Human Rights