2021-2022 / DROI1272-1

Human Rights Law

Duration

24h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in law5 crédits 
 Master in law (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in political sciences : general (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in political sciences : general (60 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculté de Droit, de Sciences politique et de Criminologie)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Christophe Deprez

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course aims to provide a general overview of the main institutional, substantive and procedural aspects of the branch of the law dealing with the protection of human rights, as well as of the key practical issues associated with human rights litigation. To this end, the course will build on the basic knowledge already acquired in this field by students, directly or indirectly, throughout their curriculum. The approach will be inclusive: for each section of the course, the contribution and the specifics of all spheres of human rights protection (domestic, regional, universal) will be covered. Yet, the sphere of the Council of Europe (European Convention on Human Rights) will be of particular relevance.
The course will be divided into four major sections:
I.- General introduction
II.- Human rights institutions and mechanisms
III.- Human rights: substantive aspects
IV.- Human rights: procedural aspects.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

- Basic knowledge of key principles of public international law;
- Ability to use English as a working language.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The teaching method for this course will vary.
Lectures will be the basis of sections I, II and IV.
For section III (substantive aspects), students will be invited to becoming familiar with the relevant human rights and associated judicial interpretation in a proactive, self-learning manner. A collective and cooperative method will be applied, which will normally include active collaboration and interactions with fellow students at Koç University Law School. The exacts details of this experience will depend on the size of both classes in Liège and in Istanbul, and may include teamwork on litterature provided by the instructor, presentations in small groups of one specific human rights judgment, or submission of a short paper. Detailed information will be provided before the semester begins.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Additional information:

Subject to the evolution of the pandemic, course sessions will normally take place on campus. Sessions for section III of the course may however be held online if their format so requires.

Recommended or required readings

Specific ressources may be provided ahead of the semester in connection with section III of the course.

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Additional information:

The assessment method will be twofold:
i) 20 % of the final grade: attendance, participation and overall assessment in connection with section III of the course described above. For this purpose, students may for instance be asked, in small groups, to present a human rights judgment in front of the class, or to submit a short outcome paper following collaborative activities with fellow students.
As an alternative, the instructor may offer some students - on a voluntary basis and after being shortlisted - to participate in and to be assessed on the basis of an actual human rights project. Participation in this form of law clinic cannot be guaranteed and will depend on concrete opportunities that would emerge over the academic year.
ii) 80 % of the final grade: a take-home exam for which students will be invited - by consulting any type of resources they wish - to resolve one or several practical exercises and/or to give their opinion on one or several general issues pertaining to the protection of human rights.
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A second take-home exam will be organized in August/September. Students participating in the August/September session will have the opportunity either to keep their initial grade (counting for 20 %) obtained over the course of the semester in relation to section III of the course, or to be assessed on the basis of the August/September take-home exam only.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Christophe Deprez (Christophe.Deprez@uliege.be)