This module is concerned with the practice of human rights, and is linked to the Human Rights Centre Clinic. It will develop students' ability to critically evaluate - and effectively engage with - some of the principal forums available to human rights practitioners, as well as providing students with the skill set necessary to work as human rights professionals.
The module focuses on human rights advocacy. It begins by looking at how theory and practice of human rights interact, from a critical standpoint. We will examine how major critiques of human rights discourse affect the way in which we transform theory into practice. We then go on to look at domestic and international strategies for making use of international human rights law. The module then turns to examining specific advocacy routes, including making use of the UN Human Rights Council, Special Procedures and Treaty Monitoring Bodies. Specific advocacy tools are then examined, including evidence gathering (interviewing skills and documentation preservation), strategic litigation and assessing the impact of advocacy projects. The module finishes by bringing together all the material studied during the term to look at how we formulate advocacy strategies.
The module is open only to students who have been admitted to the Human Rights Centre Clinic. Please refer to the HRC Clinic page to find out how to apply by going onto this link: https://www1.essex.ac.uk/hrc/careers/clinic/default.aspx
The module focuses on human rights advocacy. It begins by looking at how theory and practice of human rights interact, from a critical standpoint. We will examine how major critiques of human rights discourse affect the way in which we transform theory into practice. We then go on to look at domestic and international strategies for making use of international human rights law. The module then turns to examining specific advocacy routes, including making use of the UN Human Rights Council, Special Procedures and Treaty Monitoring Bodies. Specific advocacy tools are then examined, including evidence gathering (interviewing skills and documentation preservation), strategic litigation and assessing the impact of advocacy projects. The module finishes by bringing together all the material studied during the term to look at how we formulate advocacy strategies.
The module is open only to students who have been admitted to the Human Rights Centre Clinic. Please refer to the HRC Clinic page to find out how to apply by going onto this link: https://www1.essex.ac.uk/hrc/careers/clinic/default.aspx
- Module Supervisor: Sabina Garahan
Category: Postgraduate Taught (PGT)