University of Essex

HU200-5-FY-CO:
Human Rights & Social Justice: Structures, Theory and Practice

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Full Year

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 05 October 2023

End date: Friday 28 June 2024

Credits: 30

Last updated: 20 October 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: HU100

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: SC233

Key module (requisite for): HU300

Key module for

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 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)

Module description

During the autumn term this module will provide a comprehensive introduction to a selection of the most important human rights bodies and organisations entrusted with the legal obligation to uphold and enforce international human rights standards and protections.

The spring term will provide the multidisciplinary student cohort with interdisciplinary human rights teaching from different approaches to human rights and social justice according to the expertise of teaching staff from other departments.

Module aims

The module aims to consolidate the human rights knowledge acquired in first year of the joint degree programme. Once the foundational materials (UN structures, regional systems, national provisions) are grounded during the first half of the module, the spring term opens the student cohort to other, diverse approaches to human rights and social justice.

A pedagogical story arc through the lens of theory & practice will serve to prepare 2nd year students for 3rd year where they are educated about contemporary challenges in the protection of human rights globally. In addition, this multidisciplinary pedagogical approach aims to support students to think critically and analytically about human rights.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module students will have gained:

1. Knowledge of the key United Nations bodies involved in setting, implementing and enforcing states’ human rights obligations.

2. Knowledge of the structure and role of regional human rights systems.

3. Knowledge of the primary institutions and mechanisms designed to ensure compliance with human rights standards at the domestic level and their relationship to regional and international bodies.

4. Deepened understanding of human rights and social justice issues by reference to their social, political, and historical contexts.

Module information

Indicative Syllabus:

Week 2 Introduction: universal, regional and domestic mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights
Week 3 The United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies
Week 4 The United Nations Charter System: The Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Week 5 European System
Week 6 European System
Week 7 Inter-American System
Week 8 Inter-American System
Week 9 African System
Week 10 National Human Rights Institutions
Week 11 National Courts and the Protection of Human Rights
Week 16 Introduction to multidisciplinary Human Rights (spring term)
Weeks 17-19 History & Human Rights
Weeks 20-22 Politics of Human Rights
Weeks 23-25 Sociology & Human Rights

Learning and teaching methods

The module will consist of a weekly two-hour in person lecture/seminar.

Bibliography

Greer, S. and Graham, L. (2022) ‘Europe’, in International Human Rights Law. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198860112.003.0022.
Rainey, B., McCormick, P. and Ovey, C. (2021a) ‘Interpreting the Convention’, in Jacobs, White, and Ovey: The European Convention on Human Rights. Eighth. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198847137.001.0001.
Rainey, B., McCormick, P. and Ovey, C. (2021d) ‘Protecting Family Life’, in Jacobs, White, and Ovey: The European Convention on Human Rights. Eighth. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198847137.001.0001.
Rainey, B., McCormick, P. and Ovey, C. (2021b) ‘Limitations Common to Articles 8 to 11’, in Jacobs, White, and Ovey: The European Convention on Human Rights. Eighth. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198847137.001.0001.
Rainey, B., McCormick, P. and Ovey, C. (2021c) ‘Prohibition of Ill-Treatment’, in Jacobs, White, and Ovey: The European Convention on Human Rights. Eighth. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198847137.001.0001.
Heri, C. (2022) ‘Climate Change before the European Court of Human Rights: Capturing Risk, Ill-Treatment and Vulnerability’, European Journal of International Law, 33(3), pp. 925–951. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chac047.
‘United Around our Values - Reykjavík Declaration’ (16AD). Council of Europe. Available at: https://edoc.coe.int/en/the-council-of-europe-in-brief/11619-united-around-our-values-reykjavik-declaration.html.
Shikova, N. (2023) Self-Determination and Secession. 1st ed. 2023. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG. Available at: https://link-springer-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/book/10.1007/978-3-031-34322-3.
Human Rights in Middle East and North Africa | Amnesty International (no date). Amnesty International. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/.
Kuran, T. (2023) ‘The Modern Middle East’s Authoritarian Face’, in Freedoms Delayed. Cambridge University Press, pp. 1–44. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009320009.002.
Harrison, R. (2023) ‘The Global and Regional Geopolitics of Civil War in the Middle East’, in R. Harrison and P. Salem (eds) Escaping the Conflict Trap: Toward Ending Civil War in the Middle East. Second edition. London: I. B. Tauris & Company, Limited, pp. 59–88. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/reader.action?docID=7069137&ppg=76.
Gerges, F.A. (2015) ‘Introduction: Contextualizing the Arab Spring Uprisings: Different Regimes, Different Revolutions, and Different Trajectories’, in F.A. Gerges (ed.) Contentious Politics in the Middle East: Popular Resistance and Marginalized Activism Beyond the Arab Uprisings. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, pp. 1–21. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137530868.
Morris, N.A., LaFree, G. and Karlidag, E. (2021) ‘Counter-terrorism Policies in the Middle East: Why Democracy Has Failed to Reduce Terrorism in the Middle East and Why Protecting Human Rights Might Be More Successful’, Criminology & Public Policy, 20(1), pp. 153–175. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12532.
Grauer, R. and Tierney, D. (2022) ‘The Democratic Embargo: Regime Type and Proxy War’, European Journal of International Relations, 28(2), pp. 444–470. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/13540661221089489.
Heyns, C. and Killander, M. (2022) ‘Africa’, in D. Moeckli, S. Shah, and S. Sivakumaran (eds) International Human Rights Law. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198860112.003.0023.
Kioko, B. (2020) ‘Perspective from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights’, Journal of Human Rights Practice, 12(1), pp. 163–170. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jhuman/huaa015.
General Assembly Resolution 48/134 (1993) Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles). Office of the High Commissioner. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/principles-relating-status-national-institutions-paris.
Byrnes, A. and Renshaw, C. (2022) ‘Within the State’, in International Human Rights Law. Oxford University Press, pp. 482–502. Available at: https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/he/9780198860112.003.0024.

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.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Reflective Statement 1 (Autumn)	20%
Coursework	Autumn Essay (HU200 Human Rights and Social Justice)	40%
Coursework	Reflective Statement 2 (Spring)
Coursework	Spring Essay (HU200 Human Rights & Social Justice: Structures, Theory and Practice)	40%

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

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Aoife Duffy, email: aoife.duffy@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff:

Contact details: Law Education Office, lawschoolug@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

Name: Dr Panagiotis Kapotas

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 48 hours, 48 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

HU200-5-FY-CO:Human Rights & Social Justice: Structures, Theory and Practice