Introductory description

Human Rights in Practice is a full year module that explores the role of human rights for addressing real problems and human rights abuses in the community.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The course will involve the following key elements:

Understanding the moral and legal framework of human rights in both the UK and internationally.

Applying your understanding of human rights to the practical and social contexts within which human rights are invoked. You will do this by undertaking some form of practical human rights related activity – your project. Each year students choose from a range of project topics. Previous topics have included the right to protest, the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, the rights of the elderly, violence against women, the right to housing and the UK’s military detention policy. Other project topics (normally three) will be devised for next year. Reflect on this experience in the form of a portfolio which will be submitted at the end of the course.

The module is an experiential learning module, in which you should discover:

The potential that human rights holds for addressing social issues

The limits of human rights discourse and of legal and other forms of action in upholding particular rights.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts, theoretical debates and individual/social significance of Human rights in the UK, Europe and internationally.
• Understand the legal and constitutional framework within which human rights in the UK are defined, adjudicated and implemented.
• Appreciate the relevance of specific rights to particular communities and individuals.
• Develop written and oral advocacy skills in the analysis, preparation and presentation of a human rights project on behalf of an external agency, group or interest.
• Experience and practice the planning, negotiation and delivery of a human rights project on behalf of a local community interest or group.
• Use a variety of information technology media in researching, drafting and presenting their projects for a specific audience.
• Work effectively with others and to organise collective responses to identified human rights problems or issues and understand the significance of developing appropriate team-working practices and behaviours.
• Research the legal basis for specific rights and to investigate the legal problems and implications of particular human rights for identified interests or constituencies.
• Understand the contextual operation and Implementation of specific rights and the practical opportunities, processes, requirements and constraints affecting the pursuit and promotion of specific rights.
• Evaluate and analyse the value and significance of a practical human tights problem or project.
• Reflect upon their experience and develop alternative and improved responses to their project/problem where necessary.

Indicative reading list

Subject specific skills

No subject specific skills defined for this module.

Transferable skills

No transferable skills defined for this module.