General Information
The module
content covers the normative framework for freedom of religion or belief under
international law as well as a number of key challenges faced by states in
protecting these freedoms for all, and critiques related to the framing and
exercise of this freedom. The seminars include deep dives into specific topics
such as protections for gender equality, obligations to uphold right to
non-discrimination including promoting substantive equality, duties upon states
to prohibit advocacy of religious hatred, and effects of different
state-religion relationships on the rights of various groups in vulnerable
situations. It also covers frontier topics in the field such as impacts of
emerging technologies on the freedom of thought. In addition to these deep dives,
topics covered in the module also offer non-hegemonic and critical
perspectives, particularly those drawn from postcolonial/decolonial, feminist,
minority, as well as non-religious and communitarian perspectives.
Key Aims
· to enable to students to develop a range of skills to engage with a number of widespread controversies in the conceptualisation and practice of human rights, and to empower them to carry out further independent research. The issues that are examined are cross-cutting and provide perspectives from a variety of disciplines.
· to equip students with cross-cultural dialogue skills that are necessary for a range of careers that touch upon human rights and cultural diversity whether as diplomats, human rights advocates, journalists, educators, or academic researchers, among others, where interaction with peoples from diverse backgrounds and cultures and identities is needed.
Learner Outcomes
The module has five major objectives in terms of learning outcomes:
- to understand the foundational role of the freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief in the broad human rights framework and develop literacies to negotiate and promote human rights in secular and de-secularised spaces;
- to examine critically hegemonic, postcolonial perspectives and gendered perspectives on human rights and develop the tools necessary for cross-cultural understanding and engagement and to promote societal inclusion;
- to analyse the inter-relationship between culture, history, religion, patriarchy and politics in the realisation of human rights.
- to develop critical reasoning, analytical writing and oral argumentation skills;
- to enable students to carry out independent research into the subject.
- Module Supervisor: Ahmed Shaheed