Learning objectives
Students are expected to acquire specialized knowledge in the field of the international protection of human rights.
At the end of this study-unit, students will
- gain an understanding and critically assess principles, norms and procedural mechanisms related to main international instruments for the protection of human rights;
- appreciate the main trends of development and autonomously deepen the study of other fields of human rights protection;
- apply the acquired knowledge to practical cases and assert their own thesis by using correct terminology and proper arguments.
Prerequisites
Basic notions of Public International Law are indispensable.
Course unit content
Lectures will focus on the protection of human rights. After a general overview, attention will be paid both to main international legal instruments for the protection of human rights (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) and to related monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. A few topics - such as the protection of women’s rights, the protection of the rights of children, the right to life, the prohibition of torture and the right to respect of private and family life - will be dealt with by means of discussion and analysis of salient case-law.
Full programme
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Bibliography
- L. PINESCHI (ed.), La tutela internazionale dei diritti umani. Norme, garanzie e prassi, Giuffré, Milan, 2006, only the following sections: pp. 15-40; 67-147; 173-202; 232-408;
- L. PINESCHI, Diritti umani (protezione internazionale dei), in Enciclopedia del diritto, Annals V, Giuffrè, Milan, 2012, pp. 558-564; 570-573; 574-582 (integrating and updating the above-mentioned textbook).
Teaching methods
Taught classes and discussion of cases taken from the practice of United Nations human rights bodies and the salient case-law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination. Knowledge and understanding will be tested with at least two questions aimed to assessing the actual knowledge of international rules and related procedural mechanisms.
Applying knowledge and understanding will be assessed by inviting students to talk about one or more practical case-law of an international human rights monitoring body.
Communication skills will be tested by assessing student’s skill to give thorough definitions, to use correct specialized terminology and to explain the meaning of specific expressions or concepts. Learning skills will be tested by means of an overall assessment of student’s answers.
Other information
A few topics will be dealt with by experts in the field within ad hoc seminars or workshops.
