Syllabus:

1. What are “international human rights” and who cares? (The philosophy, politics, and critique of human rights, The history of international human rights)

2. The Substantive Dimension (The Sources of Human Rights Law: Types, generations and hierarchies of rights. Human rights: Between Universalism and Relativism Interpretation of human rights treaties. Limitations, exceptions, derogations.)

3. The future of the Strasbourg Court and enforcement of ECHR standards: reflections on the Interlaken process. Democracy as an instrument of justice (Developments in legal theory on democracy and justice. Development of the scope of human rights. Can human rights be cultural, social, economical, individual or collective?)

4. Substantive rights: Non-derogable rights (Art. 2 The Right to Life, Art. 3 Prohibition of Torture)

5. Substantive rights: Derogable rights (Art. 5 Right to Liberty and Security of Person, Art. 6 Due Process, Right to a Fair Trial, Civil Rights and Obligations, Art. 8 - 11 General introduction)

6. Substantive rights: Derogable rights (Art. 8 Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence, Art. 9 Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion, Art. 10 Freedom of Expression, Art. 11 Freedom of Assembly and Association).

7. General provisions affecting Convention rights (Art. 13 Right to an Effective Remedy Before a National Authority, Art. 14 Prohibition of Discrimination, Sanctions and supervision of the Courts judgements)

8. The Convention and the EU (Relations Between Legal Systems: International Law, Community Law and National Law, The role of international law)

9. Substantive Law and the Common market (Conflicting treaties in international law, The Community Treaties and the Human Rights)

10. Concluding seminar

Course Goals:

On completion of the course, students will demonstrate an ability to

· think and argue about legal concepts, topics and issues
· demonstrate skills of selecting relevant ideas, balancing and evaluating them
· present concepts and arguments both orally and in written form coherently and effectively