International Human Rights Law

Content

This course traces the evolution of international human rights law from foundational civil liberties to the contemporary challenges facing the field, including the rights of minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples. It addresses both historical foundations and pressing contemporary debates, such as climate change, digital technologies, and migration.
Beyond a positivist engagement with human rights norms and implementation mechanisms, the course adopts a critical lens. It integrates feminist theory, intersectionality, and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), alongside cultural relativist, anthropological, and Marxist critiques.
The course fosters active engagement through guided readings, case discussions, and dialogue. It encourages critical reflection on the scope, limitations, and future directions of human rights law.
A highlight of the course is a field trip to the United Nations in Geneva, offering practical insights into international human rights mechanisms and institutional practice.