Learning objectives
Students are expected to acquire specialized knowledge in the field of the international protection of human rights.
At the end of the course, students
- will be able to understand and critically assess principles, norms and procedural mechanisms related to the above mentioned systems for the protection of human rights;
- will be able to detect the main trends of development and autonomously deepen the study of other fields of human rights protection;
- will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to practical cases and assert their own thesis by using correct terminology and proper arguments.
Prerequisites
A good knowledge of basic principles of Public International Law. Students who have not undertaken the exam of Public International Law in their previous university studies are invited to contact the teacher during her office hours to agree some readings, preliminary to the undertaking of the exam.
Course unit content
Lectures will focus on the protection of human rights in International Law. 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. Selected topics - such as the protection of women and children rights, the right to life, the prohibition of torture and the right to respect for private and family life - will be further explored through the analysis and
Full programme
- - -
Bibliography
L. PINESCHI (ed.), La tutela internazionale dei diritti umani. Norme, garanzie e prassi, Giuffré, Milano, 2015, reprint with updates, the following pages only: 15-40; 67-147; 173-202; 232-408; 833-879.
Teaching methods
Taught lessons: 48 hours.
Seminars: 6 hours.
During seminars, students shall analyze and discuss international documents taken from the practice of United Nations human rights bodies and prominent case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, available at the Elly Platform.
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 discuss one or more cases drawn by the case-law of an international human rights monitoring body (non-attending students) or one or more cases discussed during the course (attending students).
Communication skills will be tested by assessing students' 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 students' answers.
During the course, attending students will be allowed to undertake partial tests, useful for monitoring in progress the achievement of their learning objectives. The tests will be written and will consist of the discussion of one or more fictitious cases. No mark will be given, but the results of the tests will be discussed in class to better understand basic notions or to avoid possible mistakes. The dates of the partial tests will be communicated during the course.
Other information
A few topics will be dealt with by experts in the field within ad hoc seminars or workshops.
