HU921-7-FY-CO:
Contemporary Issues in Human Rights and Cultural Diversity
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
08 August 2019
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
Whether one is a lawyer or a philosopher or a social scientist, we begin, in the field of human rights, from the fundamental premise asserted in the first sentence of the UDHR: 'recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.' And it is in the real world of diversity, of different ways of being, doing, seeing, understanding and meaning that we assert the universality of human rights.
Culture can interact with human rights in a variety of ways--sometimes challenging, sometimes reinforcing, but perhaps never ignoring. Therefore, the challenges that cultural diversity presents to human rights are truly fascinating and our study of them can not only enrich our understanding of human rights, but also enable us to advance human rights in a really meaningful way.
The module provides a comprehensive education in a range of foundational and applied issues arising out of the relationship between human rights and cultural diversity. The approach is typically multidisciplinary with contributing lecturers coming from government, human rights, law, linguistics, philosophy and sociology.
Satisfactory attendance of and participation in the teaching components of the module should enable all students to achieve the following:
* Gain satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the normative foundations of human rights.
* Gain satisfactory knowledge and understanding of specific critical perspectives upon human rights from the perspective of cultural diversity.
* Gain satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the rights of minorities, including indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, sexual minorities and the like.
* Gain an understanding of the complex relationship between respecting human rights principles and respecting various cultural communities.
* Gain a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the relationship between religion and human rights.
* Gain a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of core legal mechanisms for the protection of cultural rights.
* Acquire an intellectual framework within which to situate and understand a range of contemporary debates and controversies within this area of study and practice.
In addition to the teaching staff, there will also be a range of internationally-renowned academic experts.
For most weeks, reading is divided into ‘essential’ and ‘further’ reading. Essential reading is mandatory as preparation for each week’s lecture/seminar and students are required to undertake the essential reading prior to each week’s lecture/seminar.
The module is taught over both the autumn and spring terms. It consists of a weekly two-hour lecture/seminar.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
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
Prof Ahmed Shaheed, email: ashaheed@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Andrew Fagan, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, Dr Julian Burger, Dr Sanae Fujita, Dr Clara Sandoval, Prof. Geoff Gilbert, Dr Gus Waschefort and leading figures from other Departments.
School of Law, University of Essex, Email: fagaaw@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 36 hours, 28 (77.8%) hours available to students:
8 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
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.