LAW4666 - European human rights law - 2019

This unit will provide an overview of the origin, development and current status of human rights protection in Europe. Its primary focus will be on the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which has established the most sophisticated and successful regional system of human rights protection in the world. The European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, holds to account member states for violations of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Convention to over 800 million persons. The second component concentrates on the European Union and how on the basis of a few EU Treaty provisions - now reinforced by the Charter of Fundamental Rights - the European Court of Justice has fashioned a comprehensive and dynamic system of judicial protection.

At the successful completion of this Unit, students will be able to:

• Critically analyse the main instruments of European human rights law, especially the European Convention of Human Rights;
• Demonstrate cognitive and creative skills in evaluating how the European Court of Human Rights has consistently updated the obligations of member states in the light of changing circumstances, including social and cultural values;
• Critically analyse debates surrounding controversial issues arising under EU human rights law and evaluate future developments in human rights protection in Europe;
• Have developed personal communication and specialist skills and possess a firm foundation for future study or research in this field.

Attendance requirement: Students who fail to attend at least 80% of the classes in this unit (ie who miss 3 or more classes) will receive a result of 0 N for the unit. Students who are unable to meet this requirement due to severe illness or other exceptional circumstances must make an application for in-semester special consideration with supporting documentation.

(1)Class participation and class paper based on a class presentation (1500 words) (based on a class presentation and a class paper as written evidence of that presentation): (20%)

A full explanation of how class participation and class paper based on presentation will be assessed will be provided in the unit guide

(2)Take-home examination (4000 words) (80%)

Students are required to attend 36 hours of lectures over the duration of this semi-intensive unit.

The unit timetable link below is not applicable to this unit.

See also Unit timetable information