Human Rights in Global Context

Paper Code: 
MIR 324-A
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The history of mankind is marked by efforts to ensure respect for the dignity of human beings. Steps were taken to establish international human rights standards, in particular in the nineteenth century and after the First World War and further in the twentieth century a comprehensive international system of human rights promotion and protection was set up. This course has been specifically designed to address the needs and interests of students of international studies. 

The  objectives of this course are to:

  • develop analytical skills to question and appraise human rights policies and practices at the international levels;
  •  perceive improvements, discern ambiguities and identify contradictions in the human rights movement; and
  • gain the understanding of the key contemporary challenges in international human rights.

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

MIR 324-A

Human Rights in Global Context

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

CO60:    think critically, engage in complex reasoning and express their thoughts clearly through their written work as well as in their response to various issues in human rights .

CO61: consider prevailing trends in the human rights field and of the challenge and provide their own contribution as parts of various state and non-state actors engaged in the promotion and enforcement of human rights.

CO62:    identify potential roles for oneself in the promotion of human rights

CO63:  research questions in international human rights and to formulate arguments in defence of a position. 

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Unit- I

Human Rights- conceptual concerns- Definitions, Characteristics, Natural Rights

12.00
Unit II: 
Unit- II

Approaches:, Classification- Generations of Human Rights: First; Second, Third

12.00
Unit III: 
Unit- III

Evolution: Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, American Bill of Rights,The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Unit- IV

Universalisation of Human Rights: United Nations Charter, UNDHR, International Bodies for the protection of Human Rights; Regional Arrangements and relation with domestic law , Role of NGOs

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Unit- V

Contemporary issues: women& child, war prisoners, refugees and displaced persons

 

Essential Readings: 

Essential Readings:

  • Encyclopedia of Human Rights : 5 volumes; (2009)Oxford University Press
  • ABC Teaching of Human Rights: Centre for Human Rights,(1989), New York: UN Publication,
  • Biswal, T. (2006) Human Rights Gender and Environment. New Delhi: Viva Books Private Limited
  • O' Byrne, D. J. (2005) Human Rights: An Introduction. Singapore: Pearson Education,
  • Mishra, P. (2000) Human Rights Global Issues. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications,
  • Baxi, U.,(2006) The Future of Human Rights, New Delhi: Oxford University Press,

 

References: 

Reference Books:

  • Coicaud, J. M.; Doyle, M.W. and Marie, A. (eds.) (2003) The Globalization of Human Rights. New York: United Nations University Press,
  • Lewis, J. R. and Skutsch, C. (2001) TheEncyclopedia of Human Rights. New York: Sharpe Reference,
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2005) Human Rights: The New Consensus. London: The Regency Press
  • Donnelly, J. (2003). Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice (2nd edn). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
  • Forsythe, D. P. (ed.) (2000). Human Rights and Comparative Foreign Policy. Tokyo: United Nations University Press.
  • Forsythe, D. P. (2006). Human Rights and International Relations (2nd edn). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Freeman, M. (2002). Human Rights: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Weiss, T. G. (2007). Humanitarian Intervention: Ideas in Action. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Welsh, J. M. (ed.) (2004). Humanitarian Intervention and International Relations. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Basu, L.N., Human Rights: Practice and Limitations, Pointer Publications, Jaipur, 2006.
  • Brysk, A. (Ed.), Globalization and Human Rights, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA., 2002.
  • Donnelly, J. International Human Rights, Third Edition, Westview Press,
  • Evans, T.(2006) The Politics of Human Rights: A Global Perspective. Second Edition, Colorado: Pluto Press
  • Aswal, B. S.(2007), Human Rights Select International Instruments, New Delhi: Cyber Tech Publications

 

Academic Year: 
2020-21
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