LW244-6-AU-CO:
The Protection of Human Rights in the UK
2024/25
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
05 February 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This 15-credit module builds upon the foundations of human rights law which are introduced in LW103 Public Law. The module provides students with a deeper understanding of the international and domestic legal framework within which human rights are protected in the United Kingdom.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide students with the necessary knowledge so that the Learning Outcomes listed below are achieved.
- To provide students with a knowledge of the framework for the protection of human rights in the UK that they can apply to substantive legal problems.
- To encourage students to engage with the framework for protection of human rights in the UK within its political and international context.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Show understanding of and critically evaluate the framework for protection of human rights in the United Kingdom.
- Identify the distribution of powers and functions between the three branches of government in the protection of human rights and critically evaluate that distribution.
- Identify the distribution of powers and functions between the United Kingdom and the Council of Europe in the protection of human rights and critically evaluate that distribution.
- Consider the need for structural reform to human rights protection.
The module commences with consideration of the key international source of human rights within the UK: the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). We will look in detail at the machinery of the Convention, the protection of specific absolute and qualified rights (as examples) and the role of the European Court of Human Rights in protecting these rights. In the second part of the module, we will closely analyse the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), which gives further effect to the Convention’s provisions into UK law, effectively “bringing rights home”. The module will explore contemporary issues to deepen students’ comprehension of how the HRA is applied in practice and enforced in courts. Additionally, it will cover the future of human rights protection and possible reforms in this field.
The module will be delivered via:
- Weekly lectures
- Weekly tutorials
The module teaching team will upload all relevant teaching materials on Moodle. You will find reading lists, the textbook, weekly handouts and PPS notes on Moodle. The materials in question are designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the lectures and tutorials and to equip you to analyse the required readings.
You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your tutorials. Your tutorials will enable you to discuss the material covered in lectures and the required readings, obtain feedback on your pre-class preparation and deepen your understanding of key concepts.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Mid-Term Task 2 |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
LW244-6-AU - Essay |
|
80% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Nikos Vogiatzis, email: n.vogiatzis@essex.ac.uk.
Prof Theodore Konstadinides, Dr Nikos Vogiatzis
Law UG Education Administrators - lawschoolug@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Paolo Sandro
University of Salford
Lecturer in Law
Available via Moodle
Of 1004 hours, 20 (2%) hours available to students:
984 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Essex Law School
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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