The course offerings focus on the theory and practice of international human rights law. Lectures and classes are scheduled in the morning and afternoons. The introductory morning course in the Fundamentals of International Human Rights Law provides participants with an in-depth understanding of relevant laws, legal principles, obligations, and enforcement machinery. Students that have already studied international human rights law or can demonstrate significant professional experience in the field may opt to take the advanced morning seminar in Human Rights Advocacy. The afternoon electives allow more in-depth study of a particular specialized area of international human rights law. In addition, the program includes a human rights film series, a careers panel, and a lecture series by some of the leading authorities and actors in the field of international human rights law.
Course Structure
The program begins on Sunday 8 July. Program orientation and library registration are held on Monday 9 July. Classes are held mornings and afternoons Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 July, Monday 16 to Friday 20 July, Monday 23 to Thursday 26 July and Monday 30 July to Wednesday 1 August. Friday 27 July is a reading day. Examinations will be held on Friday 3 August and the program concludes at 9am on Saturday 4 August.
Seminar Options
The morning session is comprised of a plenary lecture, followed by a small seminar discussion group. Participants may choose one of the following morning seminar options:
- The Fundamentals of International Human Rights Law
- Human Rights Advocacy and Dissemination*
*Subject to the approval of the Course Directors as this is an advanced course
The afternoon sessions are taught in small discussion groups. Participants may choose one of the following five electives:
- International Criminal Law
- Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Law and Practice*
- Gender, Sexuality and International Human Rights Law*
- Human Rights and the Marketplace
- The Law of War
*Course subject to GW Law faculty approval
For the afternoon seminars we will ask you to number your choices 1 (first choice) and 2 (second choice). We will always try to place you in your first choice but this may not be possible if a class is already oversubscribed. We may not be able to confirm your class choices until after the payment deadline. Please see below for detailed information about the content of these courses.
Seminar Descriptions
Fundamentals of International Human Rights Law.
Professor Doug Cassell, Professor Erika de Wet, Professor Françoise Hampson, Professor Dino Kritsiotis (3 semester credits).
This core introductory course aims to provide students with a basic grounding in international human rights law and its systems for enforcement. The course is open to students that have no prior knowledge of international law or international human rights law. The first part of the course examines the philosophical and historical development of human rights and basic key principles of public international law which underpin international human rights law. During this part of the course particular emphasis is placed upon an examination of the sources of international human rights law. The second part of this course explores international and regional human rights laws and enforcement machinery. During this part of the course we examine and evaluate the work of the United Nations Charter and Treaty-based machinery and the regional human rights laws and systems in Africa, the Americas, Europe and developments in other parts of the world. The final section of the course examines a number of topics in international human rights law, including poverty and human rights, the rights or women, humanitarian law and intervention, the rights of refugees, international criminal tribunals and the role of non-governmental organizations in the protection and promotion of human rights. This course is taught by way of a daily plenary lecture which is delivered by different eminent faculty each day. The lecture is followed by seminar groups that facilitate greater discussion and exploration of the lecture topic of the day. The course is evaluated by way of a written examination (75%) and class participation (25%).
Human Rights Advocacy and Dissemination. Professor Liz Griffin (3 semester credits).
Human rights advocacy and dissemination plays a key role in the enforcement of international human rights law. This course examines some of the real challenges and ethical dilemmas that arise during human rights work. Noting the precarious position of human rights defenders and NGOs, we commence the course with a discussion of the legal rights that aim to protect the freedom of people to advocate for human rights. The course then turns to examine some specific advocacy strategies including campaigning, fact finding, reporting, lobbying for new standards and strategic litigation. Case studies allow us to explore the effectiveness of different strategies before the UN, regional bodies and at the domestic level. The final part of the course focuses key human rights advocacy skills. A series of final practical role play exercises aim to improve students knowledge of key skills including developing an advocacy strategy, collecting and analyzing information and how to interview the survivors of human rights violations. This course will be examined by class participation (40%) and written exam (60%).
This advanced morning course is offered to students that can demonstrate prior post graduate study of international human rights law and/or have a significant amount of practical human rights experience. Students taking Human Rights Advocacy and Dissemination are also required to attend the daily plenary lecture scheduled for students taking the Fundamentals of International Human Rights Law.
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Law and Practice. Ms. Meghna Abraham (2 semester credits).
This course scrutinizes the legal and practical challenges around implementation of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR). In the last twenty-five years, there have been crucial developments at the international, regional and national levels, which have helped clarify the nature of state obligations. These developments will be critically examined and discussed through lectures and seminars. In addition to analyzing the conceptual framework, the course will also introduce students to the mechanisms and tools for implementation of ESCR. Topics that will be focused include the rights to housing, health, food, water, education and work and the obligations of states for human rights beyond their borders. Students will be assessed through their participation in class and a written exam.
*Course subject to GW Law faculty approval
Gender, Sexuality and International Human Rights Law. Professor Dianne Otto (2 semester credits).
Recognition of the concepts of gender and sexuality in international human rights law is a relatively new development and remains a highly contested terrain of legal struggle. The main objective of the course is to link sexuality to rights in the international legal arena. It examines the ways that human rights frameworks have been applied to constructions of gender and sexuality in the international arena. It seeks to deepen our understanding of the politics of gender and sexual diversity in the universality of human rights, legal pluralism and cultural relativism. The course also analyses the relevance of international human rights law in the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Students will be assessed through their participation in class and a written exam.
Human Rights and the Marketplace. Dean Susan Karamanian; Professor Chip Pitts (2 semester credits).
The class examines the relationship between international human rights standards and global trade and investment, corporate governance and competition, international finance, and economic development. The specific topics that are covered include basic principles and institutions; market-based initiatives toward corporate responsibility (i.e., efforts by companies to attract consumers and investors by voluntarily adopting human rights codes of conduct or social accountability standards); domestic regulation (directives and legislation in various countries that, through human rights conditionality, attempt to recruit the transnational corporation as an instrument of foreign policy); civil liability (the enforcement of standards against corporations through private lawsuits in domestic courts); international regulation (under which intergovernmental organizations attempt to channel corporate conduct in ways that are thought to be socially responsible); and the overlap between human rights norms and economic/investment norms. Evaluation will be by written examination.
War, Peace and Human Rights. Professor Michael Matheson (2 semester credits).
This course provides a detailed introduction to the international laws governing armed conflicts. Topics covered will include the resort to force, rules on conduct of hostilities, treatment and status of prisoners, the laws of occupation, and the relationship with human rights law. The legality of the use of force and the protection of human rights during the conflicts in Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo and Libya are prime examples of the centrality of international law to current affairs. The course will look at these and other situations, and provide an understanding of the applicable principles of international law. Students will be assessed through their participation in class and a written exam.
International Rights of Refugees
Faculty member to be confirmed (2 semester credits)
Human displacement is one of the most important and pressing human rights issues facing the international community that sits at the intersection of conflict, peace and human rights. This course will introduce and explore the main features of the international refugee protection regime, as well as the law, policy and practice concerning internally displaced persons. It will critically discuss the protection regime in law and in practice, as well as the gaps and limitations of that regime. Topics will include the right to asylum and questions of state sovereignty, protection from refoulement, the criteria and procedure for determining refugee status, including who is excluded from that status, durable solutions, the question of internal displacement, and the responsibilities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees under international law. Regional systems will also be explored, especially Africa, Latin America and Europe. It will be taught inter alia by the use of case studies and simulated practical exercises.