Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit is designed to introduce students to the principles and doctrines of human rights and its international framework, including legal instruments, the United Nations system of human rights, treaty bodies and regional systems.
Throughout the semester, students will learn to identify the relevance of human rights, the social and ethical implications of their violations; and to analyse international human rights standards, agreements and legislation in theory and practice, to critically identify global and contemporary human rights-related problems.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Understand the main concepts, principles and doctr...
Learning Outcome 01
Ability to identify human rights violations, their...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically analyse international human rights stan...
Learning Outcome 03
Identify contemporary global and local problems re...
Learning Outcome 04
Identify and evaluate international and regional m...
Learning Outcome 05
Undertake independent research in a specific area ...
Learning Outcome 06
Utilise human rights instruments and principles to...
Learning Outcome 07
Content
Topics will include:
- Introduction to Human Rights. A historical approach
- Civil and Political Rights / Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- The United Nations Human Rights System. Charter Bodies / Treaty System and Bodies
- Regional Systems of Human Rights
- Human Rights in Australia
- Human Rights Limitations and Mechanisms of enforcement
- The Human Rights of Vulnerable Groups, including children, women, indigenous peoples & people with disabilities.
- Global issues and Human Rights, including human rights in armed conflicts (International Humanitarian Law); refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons; and climate change.
- Human Rights and Social Change
Assessment strategy and rationale
Assessments are closely linked to the learning and teaching strategy.
The first assessment seeks to help students understand the main concepts, principles and doctrines related to human rights, from the international, regional and domestic perspectives (LO1) and develop their ability to identify human rights violations, their ethical implications and their impact on society (LO2).
Once the foundational knowledged has been assessed, students will work in groups to critically analyse international human rights standards, agreements and legislation in theory and practice (LO3), to identify contemporary - global and local - problems related to human rights (LO4), evaluate the mechanisms for their enforcement (LO5), and actively engage in creating a statement to present their arguments for the respect and preponderance of human rights (LO7).
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1 - Presentation The students wil...
Assessment Task 1 - Presentation
The students will be allocated a specific human right from the first or second generation. Their task is to study and create a summary of this right, including the history of its acknowledgement, contemporary issues, and an analysis of the aspects that may jeopardise its respect and implementation by States.
Format: Oral Presentation
15%
Assessment Tak 2 - Written Submission The task is...
Assessment Tak 2 - Written Submission
The task is to prepare a submission to the Committee of a Treaty Body (CEDAW, CCPR, CAT, CERD, for example) as allocated by the tutor, referring observations on potential human rights violations in a specific country for the purposes of State reporting under that treaty.
Format: Written Assessment
35%
Assessment Task 3 – Research Essay Students must...
Assessment Task 3 – Research Essay
Students must develop a research essay on a human right issue (from a global or local perspectives). They must state a specific research question and develop an argument to answer it. Their essay must include a clear claim, reasoning, evidence, counter-argument and conclusion.
Format: Written Assessment
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Students will be led from a historical basis to a contemporary practical and critical approach.
During the first three weeks the foundations will be covered (history and first and second generations of human rights); creating in students a sense of curiosity of their role in guaranteeing the respect and prevalence of human rights. Then, students will be immersed in the United Nations System to understand the treaties and bodies created for the protection of human rights, including regional systems and mechanisms of enforcement. Once students are familiar with concepts, principles and institutional framework, they will be introduced to the critical aspect of the unit, where they will examine the correspondence between global issues and human rights; to finalise with a critical analysis on social change.