557 International Human Rights Law (Szigeti)

LAW557

International Human Rights Law

(Szigeti)

Prerequisite courses:

Prerequisite for:

Instructor(s): Professor Péter D. Szigeti

Course credit: 3

Method of presentation: Lecture/Seminar 

METHOD OF EVALUATION

Grades will be determined through a combination of class participation (10%), class presentations (40%) and a short paper (50%).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Human rights are purportedly the foundation of all law and justice. What are these fundamental human rights, how do we know that a certain claim is a human right (or just an ordinary right, or only a desire)? How do human rights interact with an international legal system based on state sovereignty, and how can they be enforced in this system? What powers do judges and courts have in this system, and what can judges do when human rights collide with each other? This course will look at theories of human rights, the development of international human rights instruments, and ways in which international and domestic institutions (the United Nations, international and domestic courts, NGOs) have sought to enforce and entrench human rights. It will conclude with the global backlash against human rights and foreseeable prospects for international human rights law.

SPECIAL COMMENTS

Description updated 2024-25. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.

REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY)

Required readings will be uploaded to TWEN.