Prospectus

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ILS - Protection of Human Rights

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Registration in the subtrack GMD Legal of the European Law Master.

Description

This course will provide students with thorough insights and understanding of human rights protection in Europe. As such, it will provide students with information, which function as the foundation for the other courses of the GMD Legal Track

In the course we will look at the Council of Europe and the protection mechanism developed in it. The interpretation of the Europeaan Convention of Human Right through the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights will be investigated. We will focus on how the European Court of Human Rights developed the main principles duiding human rights protection on the European continent. Other instruments such as the European Convention for the Protection against Torture (CPT) and the European Social Charter will also be looked at. Next to the Council of Europe, we will also look at the international system of human rights protection and will briefly look at the systems set-up in other parts of the world.

Fundamental rights protection within the European Union will be studied in order to provide another foundation for the courses to come in the GMD legal track. Here the position of the Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as its interpretation by the Court of Justice of the European Union will stand central. We will discuss the relationship between international human rights law, the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as the EU system of Human Rights protection.

The interaction between these legal systems will allow students further insights into the area of protection of fundamental rights.

Course objectives

As part of the GMD legal track this course lays the groundwork of knowledge for students as far as human rights protection is concerned on which the other courses will buit upon

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding the ECHR and its supervisory mechanism. They can articulate and explain the way in which the ECHR rights are interpreted and applied in practice.

  • Compare and evaluate the role of the co-existing human rights protection mechanisms . They can discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the role human rights play within the EU. They can articulate and explain how the protection and promotion of human rights affects the integration within the EU and the position of the EU Court of Justice in relation to the other institutions of the EU and its Member States.

  • Analyse and evaluate decisions of a human rights body and present comments on these decisions, comparing it with other decisions of the same body or other bodies.

Timetable

Check MyTimetable.

Mode of instruction

Lectures

  • Number of (2 hour) lectures: 6

  • Names of lecturers: tbd

  • Required preparation by students: the required preparartion for the individual lectures will be announced well in advance via brightspace.

Seminars

  • Number of (2 hour) seminars: 6

  • Names of instructors: tbd

  • Required preparation by students: the required preparartion for the individual lectures will be announced well in advance via brightspace. It will include the study of legal literature, case-law, and solving cases which will then be discussed in the seminars.

Assessment method

Examination form(s)

  • Written assignment: Completing an assignment and following the related feedback process. This is mandatory to obtain a grade for the course.

  • Final research paper: 100% of the final grade. Students who received a fail mark are entitled to retake the final research paper. Admission to the retake is dependent on the student having submitted a first attempt by the original deadline.

Students who received a fail mark are entitled to retake the written assignment. Admission to the retake is dependent on the student having submitted a first attempt of the written assignment by the original deadline.

Submission procedures

Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.

Reading list

Obligatory course materials

Readings for this course will mainly consist of legal literature, case law, and promary materials, such as the ECHR or the EU Charter of fundamental rights. All reading materials will be indicated on Brightspace and the Course Reader.

Reader:

Course reader is made available before the course starts. Infornation will be available on brightspace.

Literature:

  • tbd

Course information guide:

  • will be available in due time before the course, check brightspace.

Reader:

  • will be available in due time before the course, check brightspace.

Recommended course materials

  • tbd

Registration

Registration for courses and exams takes place via MyStudymap. If you do not have access to MyStudymap (guest students), look here (under the Law-tab) for more information on the registration procedure in your situation.  

Contact

  • Coordinator: Melanie Fink

  • Work address: Leiden University, Faculty of Law, Institute of Public Law
    Kamerlingh Onnes Gebouw, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, Room number C-118

  • Contact information: KOG

  • Telephone number: +31 71 527 2727

  • Email: m.fink@law.leidenuniv.nl

Institution/division

  • Institute: Public Law

  • Department: European Law

  • Room number secretary: B1.11

  • Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00

  • Telephone number secretary: +31 (0)71 527 3596 / +31 (0)71 527 7578

  • Email: europeesrecht@law.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks