Syllabus LO 0805 Human Rights Law and Practice

 

 

LO 0805 Human Rights Law and Practice :

 

Objectives of the Course : The National Legal Systems recognized the rights of individuals from ancient periods and extended protection through various legal regulations. However, they could not provide an effective remedy for breaches outside the state and state violations. This scenario and other developments in the beginning of 20th century led the nation-states to bring the aspects of individual's rights under the purview of international law and appropriately titled them as Human Rights with the adoption of Charter of UN in 1945. In pursuance of the directions of the preamble and other provisions of Charter, a plethora of international instruments have been agreed upon by the States Parties to Protect and promote the Human Rights of Individuals both at international and domestic levels. In view of the gaining significance of International Law of Human Rights, this course presents subtly an overview of the International and Domestic perspectives of Human Rights along with the redressal mechanism.

 

Module 01	Introduction : 1.     Historical origins of Human Rights in International and National Scenario -  Nature and an overview 2.     Basic Components of Human rights – Value, Dignity, Equality, Justice, Morals and Ethics and Significance 3.     Perspectives on Rights and Duties – Relationship between Rights and Duties 4.     Provisions under the Charter of UN – Preamble, Articles 1(3), 13(1)(b), 55 and 56 5.     International Bill of Human Rights (UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR) - Nature and significance 6.     Introduction to generation of Human Rights
Module 02	First Generation Human Rights :   The Civil and Political Rights – ICCPR, Part III of the Constitution of India and Landmark Cases : 1.     Civil Rights: Freedom of Opinion - Freedom of Expression and Press, Right to Personal Security in relation to justice and police, Equality before Law, Right to Life and Liberty, Right to Privacy, Right to Religion  2.     Political Rights: Equal access to Public, Participation in Governance, Right to Vote and Good Governance
Module 03	Second Generation Human Rights :   The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights : ICESCR, Part IV of the Constitution of India and Landmark Cases : 1.     Economic and Social Rights: Labour Rights, Right to Property, Right to Education, Freedom of Association, Right to Social Security (Pension, Medical Services - Right to insurance for sickness, old age – Unemployment allowance etc.)  2.     Cultural Rights: Right to develop Languages, Right to follow Customs, Folkways, Literature, and Traditions, Right to enjoy Scientific and Technological benefits
Module 04	Third and Fourth Generation Human Rights :   1.     Group Rights (Third Generation Rights) : Right to Development, Right to Self-determination, Right to Peace and Happiness, Right to Safe and Decent Environment, Right to Human Assistance, Right to Adequate Food, Right to water - Landmark Cases 2.     Right to Genetic Engineering (Fourth Generation Rights) : Right to Protect

 

	Human Genome against unethical and unfair exploitation of genetic information (The UNESCO Declaration on Human Genome from 1997), Right to Genetic Identity, Right to impose restrictions on medical (Scientific and Technology) interference, Right to Die in Peace and Dignity, Right to Life of the Unborn  (with reference to abortion and infanticide). Relationship of Science & Technology and Human Rights 3.     Upcoming Human Rights –right to science, right to participate in science, right to benefit from science, right to benefit from a person's own contribution or invention, etc. 4.     The Conflict Between Generations of Rights
Module 05	Human Rights of Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Groups : 1.     Meaning and Definition of Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Groups 2.     Social and Economic Status of Women and Children 3.     Status of Socially and Economically Disadvantaged groups - Rights of Indigenous People (Scheduled Tribes), Scheduled Caste, Minorities, Aged and Disabled 4.     Vulnerable Groups - Sex Workers, Domestic Workers, Stateless Persons, Migrant Workers, HIV/AIDS patients, LGBTQ and Prisoners
Module 06	Enforcement Mechanism of International Human Rights - Constitution, Powers and Functions : 1.     The Human Rights Committee under ICCPR 2.     The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights under ICESCR 3.     The Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women under CEDAW 4.     The Committee on the Rights of the Child under CRC 5.     Role of Human Rights Council and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Module 07	Human Rights Enforcement in India : 1.     The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 – Object, Nature, Scheme, Definitions, Landmark cases 2.     Constitution, Powers and Functions of  - a)     National Human Rights Commission b)    National Commission for Women c)     National Commission for Protection of Child Rights d)    National Commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes,  Minorities and other disadvantaged groups 3.     Role of Judiciary in Enforcement of Human Rights 4.     Human Rights Courts and their importance
Module 08	Significance of Human Rights Education : 1.     Meaning and Definition of Human Rights Education 2.     Role of UN in the Promotion of Human Rights Education 3.     Role of Government of India in the Promotion of Human Rights Education – UGC and Universities

 

Recommended Reading:

1.     V. K. Ahuja, Public International Law, LexisNexis, Noida, 2016.

2.     Gurdip Singh, International Law, Eastern book company, Lucknow, 2016.

3.     Editors, Eibe Riedgal, Gilles Giacca, Christophe Golay, Economic social and Cultural Rights in International Law, Oxford University Press, 2014 

4.     Walter Kailin and JorgKunzli, The Law of International Human Rights Protection, Oxford University Press, New York, 2010.

5.     Peter N. Strarms, Human Rights in World History, Routledge, New York, 2010.

6.     De Schutter, International Human Rights Law, Cases, Materials Commentary, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, 2010.

7.     V.R. Krishna Iyer, The Dialectics and Dynamics of Human Rights in India - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Eastern Law House, New Delhi.

8.     Manoj Kumar Sinha, Implementation of Basic Human Rights, LexisNexis.

9.     Editors, Ian Brownlie and Guy S. Goodwin-Gill, Basic Documents on Human Rights, Oxford University Press.