Module description
This module covers only the Semester 1 part of a full year module
Introduction
The aim of this course is to provide students with a greater understanding of the law relating to human rights, with particular reference to the European Convention on Human Rights ("EConvHR") and the Human Rights Act 1998 ("HRA"), which permits UK courts to enforce the EConvHR.
The first part of the course considers what rights are human rights, the categorisation of human rights as "civil and political" or "economic and social", and different approaches to providing legal protection of human rights: international treaties (United Nations and regional), and national constitutional or other bills of rights (in the United States, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and the UK).
The second part of the course examines in detail the judicial interpretation of specific human rights: what situations come within the scope of the right, and in what situations state 2 interference with the right can be justified. The topics considered vary from year to year but in the past, have included the right to life; freedom from torture; rights in relation to criminal procedure; freedom of expression, assembly and association; freedom of religion; the right to privacy in relation to sexual activity, marriage and abortion; freedom from discrimination; and rights in emergency situations. The focus for each topic is the protection of the right by the text of the EConvHR and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, but we also read selected decisions of the UK, US and Canadian Supreme Courts.
Assessment details
Coursework 100%
Teaching pattern
Seminar (1 x 2 hour per week)