Human rights protection 2200-1CW09-OG

The course provides student with a detailed understanding of the way in which protection of Human Rights is operating on international level. The course examines the main international mechanism of protection and characterize the contemporary problems of human rights. During the courses students evaluate legal responses to the challenges posed by contemporary problems of human rights. The issues that will be explored include:
1. The origin of international protection of human rights:
a. development of sources of national and international law in the field of protection of human rights.
2. Sources of international human rights law:
a. international agreements:
i. global,
ii. regional
iii. bilateral.
b. resolutions of international organisations and conferences - legal nature and impact of the so-called "soft" international law,
c. custom as a possible source of international obligations to protect human rights.
3. Three generations of human rights:
a. political and civil rights,
b. economic, social and cultural rights,
c. universal solidarity rights.
4. Universalism and regionalism in the field of international protection of human rights - complementarity or competition?
5. Institutionalism as a characteristic feature of international protection of human rights:
a. bodies with consultative powers,
b. judicial and quasi-judicial authorities
6. International Covenants on Human Rights – the Human Rights Committee
7. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
8. The system of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
a) the European Court of Human Rights
• composition
• competence
• procedure
9. Other major European conventions in the field of human rights protection
a. The European Social Charter of 1961 and the Revised European Social Charter
b. the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture of 1987,
c. Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of 1994.
10. The role of non-governmental organisations in the protection of human rights
11. Human Rights Infringements
12. Human Rights and New Technology
13. Business and Human Rights

As part of the course, students will analyse selected case law and draft complaints and notifications related to human rights violations, analyse case studies, watch footage from meetings of human rights protection bodies.