BA V1L2 History with Human Rights,
BA V1L8 History with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA V1LF History with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA V1LG History with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA T7M8 Latin American studies with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA T7M9 Latin American Studies with Human Rights,
BA V5M8 Philosophy with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA V5M9 Philosophy with Human Rights,
BA V5MX Philosophy with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA V6M9 Philosophy with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA VLM8 Philosophy with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA L219 Politics with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA L2M8 Politics with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA L2M9 Politics with Human Rights,
BA LFM9 Politics with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA L3J9 Sociology with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA L3M9 Sociology with Human Rights,
BA LMJ9 Sociology with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
LLB MM20 Law with Human Rights,
LLB MM21 Law with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
LLB MM22 Law with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
LLB MM30 Law with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA P570 Journalism with Human Rights,
BA P571 Journalism with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA P572 Journalism with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA LL37 Social Anthropology with Human Rights,
BA LL38 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA LL39 Social Anthropology with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA L914 Global Studies with Human Rights,
BA L916 Global Studies with Human Rights (Including Foundation Year),
BA L917 Global Studies with Human Rights (Including Placement Year),
BA L918 Global Studies with Human Rights (Including Year Abroad),
BA L400 Social Change,
BA L400PT Social Change,
BA L401 Social Change (including Foundation Year,
BA L402 Social Change (including Placement Year),
BA L403 Social Change (including Year Abroad),
BA V301 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights,
BA V302 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights (including Foundation Year),
BA V303 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights (including Placement Year),
BA V304 Curating, Heritage and Human Rights (including Year Abroad)
HU100 offers a comprehensive foundational knowledge of human rights from a multidisciplinary and global perspective.
This module covers key principles of human rights (freedom, equality, non-discrimination, universalism), a selection of key rights recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (life, freedom of expression, health, free trial, etc.), and some of the main challenges facing groups at greater risk of harm, disadvantage and discrimination (children, women, migrants and refugees, minorities).
By the end of the module, students will have gained:
1. Knowledge and understanding of human rights, their foundations, content, limits and key principles;
2. Awareness of the challenges and the particular circumstances of individuals and groups at greater risk of harm, disadvantage and discrimination;
3. Appreciation of how and where human rights intersect with a wide range of disciplines, including International Law, International Relations and International Political Economy;
4. Awareness of human rights concerns in the UK.
Satisfactory attendance of (and participation in) lectures and classes provides the basis for students developing a knowledge and understanding of the foundations and applications of many key human rights. By the end of the module, students will have gained:
- A knowledge and understanding of the definition of human rights
- A knowledge and understanding of the content of human rights
- An understanding of the evolution of the human rights movement
- An appreciation of how and where human rights intersects with a wide range of disciplines
- A knowledge and understanding of a range of contemporary issues and controversies
- A knowledge and understanding of the conceptual foundations and limits of human rights
- A knowledge and understanding of various critical perspectives upon human rights
Guiding notes on learning activities will be made available every week to help students go through the readings, videos and online tools to develop critical thinking and original opinions about the relevant human rights topic.
Lecturers will upload two pre-recorded videos (approximately 25 minutes each) approximately one week before the day of the tutorial. The first video will introduce the topic of the week, with references to the readings. The second video will normally introduce a real-life scenario or example where the right or the topic of that week is at stake. Some of these scenarios and examples will relate to human rights challenges in the UK.
Students are expected to watch the pre-recorded video lectures and do at least the Essential reading before the tutorial.
Tutorials will take place online via Zoom and face-to-face (50 minutes each), ensuring a parity of experience for on-campus and online students. Tutorials will be interactive, and they will be the space where students and lecturers will discuss the real-life scenario presented in the second video. Tutorials will also provide an opportunity to continue the discussion of the online forum.
Starting in week 4 and working in small teams, students will facilitate an online discussion about a case study of their choice in relation to the topic of the week. Each discussion will take place as a thread on the Moodle forum. Participation in the online discussions will be part of the continuous assessment.
The module will be delivered on the basis of blended learning, combining online education and place-based classroom methods. The delivery and study will be based on essential and Additional reading (available on Talis), videos (two per week), tutorials (face-to-face and online) and online forum discussions (on Moodle).
- Smith, Steve. (2012) 'The Phases and Functions of Freedom of Conscience', in Religion and human rights: an introduction, New York: Oxford University Press., pp.155-169
- UN CESCR. (2020) General comment No. 25 (2020) on science and economic, social and cultural rights (article 15 (1) (b), (2), (3) and (4) ICESCR).
- Gostin, Lawrence O; Monahan, John T; Kaldor, Jenny; DeBartolo, Mary; Friedman, Eric A; Gottschalk, Katie; Kim, Susan C; Alwan, Ala; Binagwaho, Agnes; Burci, Gian Luca; Cabal, Luisa; DeLand, Katherine; Evans, Timothy Grant; Goosby, Eric; Hossain, Sara; Koh, Howard; Ooms, Gorik; Roses Periago, Mirta; Uprimny, Rodrigo; Yamin, Alicia Ely. (2019-05) 'The legal determinants of health: harnessing the power of law for global health and sustainable development', in The Lancet. vol. 393 (10183) , pp.1857-1910
- Sheeran, Scott. (2014-8-7) Routledge Handbook of International Human Rights Law: Routledge.
- Shaw, Malcolm N. (2017) International law, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Evans, Carolyn. (2012) 'Religion and Freedom of Expression', in Religion and human rights: an introduction, New York: Oxford University Press., pp.188-203
- Mill, John Stuart; Gray, John. (1991) On liberty, and other essays, Oxford: Oxford University Press. vol. The World's classics
- UN CESCR. (2018) Statement on climate change and ICESCR.
- Greer, Steven. (2015-03) 'Is the Prohibition against Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment Really 'Absolute' in International Human Rights Law?', in Human Rights Law Review. vol. 15 (1) , pp.101-137
- Turner, Stephen J. (2019-05-23) 'Introduction: A Brief History of Environmental Rights and the Development of Standards', in Environmental Rights: Cambridge University Press., pp.1-16
- Ssenyonjo, Manisuli. (2016) Economic, social and cultural rights in international law, Oxford: Hart Publishing.
- Eide, Asbjørn. (2017-12-14) '10. Adequate standard of living', in International Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Eide, Asbjørn; Krause, Catarina; Rosas, Allan. (c2001) Economic, social and cultural rights: a textbook, Dordrecht: M. Nijhoff.
- Freeman, Michael. (2017) Human rights, ©2017: Polity.
- Bradley, Anna Spain. (2019) Human Rights Racism: Harvard Human Rights Journal. vol. 32
- Wilson, Richard A; Gillett, Matthew. (no date) The Hartford Guidelines on Speech Crimes in International Criminal Law.
- Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, Elena; Loescher, Gil; Long, Katy; Sigona, Nando; Scheel, Stephan; Squire, Vicki. (2014-06-01) 'Forced Migrants as 'Illegal' Migrants', in The Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies: Oxford University Press.
- Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, Elena; Loescher, Gil; Long, Katy; Sigona, Nando; Goodwin-Gill, Guy S. (2014-06-01) 'The International Law of Refugee Protection', in The Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies: Oxford University Press.
- Connors, Jane. (2017-12-14) '19. United Nations', in International Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Van Bueren, Geraldine. (2017-12-14) '17. Children's rights', in International Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Byrnes, Andrew; Renshaw, Catherine. (2017-12-14) '24. Within the state', in International Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Moeckli, Daniel. (2017-12-14) '8. Equality and non-discrimination', in International Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Thornberry, Patrick. (2016) The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: A Commentary.
- Çali, Basak. (2017-12-14) '20. Regional protection', in International Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Otto, Dianne. (2017-12-14) '16. Women's rights', in International Human Rights Law: Oxford University Press.
- Mantouvalou, Virginia. (2015-09) ''Am I Free Now?' Overseas Domestic Workers in Slavery', in Journal of Law and Society. vol. 42 (3) , pp.329-357
- Donnelly, Jack. (2013) Universal human rights in theory and practice, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
- (2013) Routledge handbook of international human rights law, London: Routledge.
- Reidy, David A. (2013) Human rights: the hard questions, New York: Cambridge University Press.
- UN Human Rights Committee. (no date) General comment No. 34 Article 19: Freedoms of opinion and expression.
- Mavronicola, Natasa. (2017-07-25) 'Is the Prohibition Against Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment Absolute in International Human Rights Law? A Reply to Steven Greer', in Human Rights Law Review.
- Mavronicola, Natasa. (2017) 'Taking Life and Liberty Seriously: Reconsidering Criminal Liability Under Article 2 of the ECHR', in The Modern Law Review. vol. 80 (6) , pp.1026-1051
- Atapattu, Sumudu. (2019-05-23) 'Environmental Rights and International Human Rights Covenants: What Standards Are Relevant?', in Environmental Rights: Cambridge University Press., pp.17-40
- Amnesty International. (no date) Human Rights for Human Dignity: A Primer on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2nd ed).
- Amnesty International. (2014) Fair Trial Manual (2nd ed).
- UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. (2019) Report on Climate Change and Poverty, UN doc: A/HRC/41/39..
- Sen, Amartya. (2001) Development as freedom, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights. (2012) Report on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress, UN doc: A/HRC/20/26..
- Rehman, Javaid. (2010) International human rights law, Harlow: Longman.
- Tobin, John. (2019) 'Introduction: The foundation for children's rights', in The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: a commentary, Oxford: Oxford University Press., pp.1-20
- Goss, Ryan. (2014) Criminal fair trial rights: Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Oxford: Hart Publishing. vol. volume 11
- Donders, Yvonne; Volodin, Vladimir; Unesco. (c2007) Human rights in education, science, and culture: legal developments and challenges, Aldershot, Hampshire: Ashgate.
- Foster, Steve. (2011) Human rights and civil liberties, Harlow, England: Pearson Longman.
- McGregor, Lorna; Murray, Daragh; Ng, Vivian. (2019-04) 'INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AS A FRAMEWORK FOR ALGORITHMIC ACCOUNTABILITY', in International and Comparative Law Quarterly. vol. 68 (2) , pp.309-343
- Möller, Kai. (no date) The Right to Life between Absolute and Proportional Protection: LSE Legal Studies Working Paper No. 13/2010.
- Henriksen, Anders. (2019-05-16) '9. International human rights law', in International Law: Oxford University Press., pp.166-188
- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. (2018) Seventieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: reaffirming and strengthening the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- Eekelaar, John; Tobin, John. (2019) 'The best interests of the child', in The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: a commentary, Oxford: Oxford University Press., pp.73-107
- Donnelly, Jack. (2007) 'The Relative Universality of Human Rights', in Human Rights Quarterly. vol. 29 (2) , pp.281-306
- Bronitt, Simon; Gani, Miriam; Hufnagel, Saskia. (c2012) Shooting to kill: socio-legal perspectives on the use of lethal force, Oxford: Hart Publishing.
- (no date) The Right to Health: Fact Sheet No. 31, Geneva: World Health Organization.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.