SRI LANKA UNITED NATIONS FR ORG- Centre for the Development of Full Human Potential

Advanced Certificate in Human Rights ( 2 Years)

Course description:

This course offers philosophical, legal, and political perspectives on human rights. After a short historical introduction to international human rights, it surveys international human rights treaties, courts, and institutions. Next it turns to topics in human rights theory, covering some contemporary philosophical theories of human rights. The final section explores some human rights problems and controversies such as economic and social rights, group rights, and cultural relativism.

Requirements:

· Reading, preparation, and class participation.

· Two short papers (5-7 pages) and two exams (midterm and final). Each counts 25%.

Texts:

· James Nickel, Making Sense of Human Rights, 2nd edition

· John Rawls, The Law of Peoples (1999)

· Online materials.

WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS?

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1.1.....Introduction: Human Rights Problems Today.

Human Rights Watch

Amnesty International

1.2..... The United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Charter of the United Nations (1945)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN 1948)

Genocide Convention (UN 1948)

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2.1….. Philosophical issues about human rights. Nickel, Making Sense of Human Rights, Chs. 1-3 (“The Contemporary Idea of Human Rights,” “Human Rights as Rights,” “Making Sense of Human Rights,” 1-52)

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HUMAN RIGHTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

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3.1.....The European Convention.

European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

(Council of Europe, 1950)

3.2.....The European Human Rights Court and its Jurisprudence.

The European Human Rights Court

Two cases from the Court: Kokkinakis v. Greece (1993) and E.B. v France (2008)

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4.1.....Nuremberg as a Precedent.

Harvard Law Library Nuremberg Trials Project (browse)

Showing of Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

4.2.....The U.N. System.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN 1966)

International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (UN 1966)

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5.1.....The UN Human Rights Committee and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights.

Human Rights Committee, Concluding Observations USA (2006)

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN 1979)

Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN 1989)

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN 2007)

Nickel, Making Sense of Human Rights, Ch 10 (“Minority Rights”, 154-167)

7.2….. Human Rights and the International Criminal Court. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (UN 1998)

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President Prof.Lakshman Madurasinghe ( Academic Dean)

Dr.Deshapriya Wijetunge

Prof.W.S.Fernando

Dr.Mrs.Thilokasundari Kariyawasam

Dr.Ishantha Siribaddana

Course Topics