Handbook

This course examines the political struggle to develop and implement international human rights norms, which protect people against abusive states and support international peace and stability. After a critical introduction to the international human rights regime, the course turns to two inter-related questions at the heart of the politics of human rights: Why do states violate human rights, and what can “we” (the international community) do to stop them from doing so? This provides the students with an opportunity to "step into the shoes" of policy makers and actively engage in an effort to find solutions to a major international problem.