LAW7253

Human rights in the global economy ( 6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Mr Adam McBeth

Offered:
City Term 3 2006 (On-campus)

Synopsis: This subject takes the intersection of international economic activity and international human rights as a new and crucial issue for international law and practice by examining the source, validity, scope, definition, violation and enforcement of social and economic rights obligations. Attention is focussed on global regulatory bodies such as the WTO, IMF and the World Bank as well as activities of multinational corporations.

Objectives: Students completing this subject should: (1) understand the principal international source of social and economic rights obligations, as well as selected regional and national instruments protecting those rights and with arguments from moral, political and legal theory on the validity of social and economic rights; (2) understand the definition of the right to adequate housing as well as be able to identify the general elements of a definition of a social and economic right and appreciate the difficulties inherent in defining these elements; (3) appreciate the plurality of actions and actors determining the extent to which social and economic rights are realised, be able to identify the extent to which they are obliged to respect those rights, and the legal and quasi-legal by which those obligations might be enforced, and be able to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of each, taking into account the different perspectives from which such assessments can be made; and, (4) have enhanced their skills in legal research, critical analysis and the written and oral presentation of research and argument.

Assessment: Class presentation: 10% + Research paper (8000 words): 90%

Contact Hours: 24 hours per semester