International Protection of Human Rights

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4022237DEW for working students in the 2nd semester at a (D) Master - preliminary level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

NOTE: registration for this course is only possible for working students. Day students can register for courses whose code ends with an R. At Inschrijven / studentenadministratie@vub.be you must be registered at the VUB as a working student for the current academic year.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Law and Criminology

Department

Publiek recht

Educational team

Stefaan Smis (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
70 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

The course approaches human rights from the perspective of international law, but because human rights are relevant to everyone, a wide audience of students can enroll for the course. The following points are addressed during the lectures:

Definition and characteristics of human rights;
The Importance to distinguish human rights from other rights under international law;
Philosophical foundation of human rights;
Historical evolution of the international protection of human rights;
Types of human rights;
The universal human rights system: the UN human rights system;
The European human rights system;

The Council of Europe
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
The European Union

The Inter-American human rights system;
The African human rights system;

The course is taught in the form of weekly lectures and blended assignments to be prepared at home.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Handboek mensenrechten, De internationale bescherming van de rechten van de mens, Stefaan Smis, Sophie Mirgaux en Karen Van Laethem, Boom Juridische Uitgever, 9789400001893, 2024
Digital course material (Required) : Tijdens de hoorcolleges te verspreiden aanvullend leesmateriaal, Canvas
Handbook (Required) : Bronnen internationale bescherming van de rechten van de mens, P. De Hert, Kristin Henrard, Karen Van Laethem, Stefaan Smis, Koen De Feyter en Stephan Parmentier, Intersentia, 9789400000407, 2010

Additional info

Additional reading material can be distributed via Canvas. Mandatory literature closely related to the lectures and/or guest lectures may also be distributed via Canvas.
Students are required to take their own class notes.

For students of the evening program a limited number of lectures are provided in which these students receive the opportunity to ask questions on the content of the lectures and a number of practical cases as solved.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

The students have broadening and in-depth knowledge and insight into Belgian, international and European law.
The students are able to critically reflect on human rights law as an evolving social (universal or otherwise) phenomenon; they are able to frame and understand new evolutions in their context, and know that they (will) have to continuously adjust their knowledge.
The students situate their thorough knowledge of human rights law in a broad context - political, economic, legal theoretical, historical, philosophical, ethical or cultural.
The students can think and act independently and critically, can learn and work independently.
The students understand how legal rules are established, which principles underlie them, which objectives are intended by them; they know that these rules and principles and their interpretation evolve and can reflect critically on them.
The students can consult sources in French and English, and can follow, understand and summarize presentations in these languages.
The students can write and talk in Dutch.
The students have developed a sense of accuracy and thoroughness, without losing sight of the general lines.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 25% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 75% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Examen Mondeling with a relative weight of 25 which comprises 25% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Paper with a relative weight of 75 which comprises 75% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The course is assessed on the basis of a written assignment (3000-4000 words) and an oral exam. The written assignment consists of writing an advisory opinion, judgment amicus curiae or policy paper based on a fictitious case. The written assignment is submitted before the exam session.

During the oral exam, the written assignment is discussed and questions are asked on what has been addressed during the lectures.

The written assignment is evaluated on 15 out of the total of 20 points and the oral exam on 5 out of 20.

Additional explanation about the assignment is given on Canvas and during the lectures.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context