LWMHRL: Human Rights Law, Policy, and Practice

Module code: LWMHRL

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor David Bilchitz, email: d.bilchitz@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 29 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to foundational human rights concepts and institutions and offers the opportunity to explore contemporary challenges and developments. Students will be introduced to key elements of the international human rights law discourse, including the distinction between civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the significance of absolute, limited, and qualified rights. Students will be introduced to international human rights treaties, particularly the International Civil and Political Rights 1966, and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966. Students will also be introduced to the work of various international human rights agencies and bodies, such as the Human Rights Council and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Students will also have the opportunity to explore contexts where violations of human rights might occur, such as when states and other agencies respond to security threats or emergency situations. Similarly, students will also explore systemic challenges associated with the universal provision of food, water, shelter, and adequate healthcare. 

The overarching aim of the module is to equip students with the necessary foundational knowledge and understanding of human rights concepts, principles, actors and institutions. The comprehension and practice of which not only informs, but gives students applicable skills to be used in different professional settings (e.g. legal opinion, policy development, academic research).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify, understand, and explain key human rights concepts, principles, actors and institutions, including the relationship between them;
2. Identify, understand, and explain the role and effectiveness of mechanisms within the United Nations human rights system;
3. Develop high-level written communication skills through work on research tasks;
4. Develop high-level research skills through independent study for each seminar and assessed research tasks.

Module content

The module will cover topics such as: 

• History and emergence of international human rights law, its foundational principles and concepts; 
• International Treaties and Instruments, such as UN Charter, Universal Declaration on Human Rights 1948, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966;
• International human rights institutions and bodies such as Human Rights Council and Office of the Hight Commissioner for Human Rights; 
• Civil and political rights such as right to life, prohibition against torture, presumption of liberty;
• Economic, social, cultural rights such as right to food, water, shelter, health; 
• Topical and emerging issues such as poverty, global capitalism, climate change and disasters. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The primary elements are: 

• Provision of essential and further readings, with notes and discussion questions for all seminars. 
• Weekly seminars of 2 hours each, with guests and experts from across the department. 
• Case study presentation by students with formative feedback. 
• Guided engagement with School and University-wide seminars. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

One non-compulsory essay outline for which students submitting will receive written feedback. 

One non-assessed presentation during seminar for which students will receive written feedback. 

Reassessment

Additional costs