This course aims to provide students with a critical understanding of international human rights law and practice. Topics to be covered include:

• historical development of international human rights law;
• international humanitarian law (the law of armed conflict) and its relationship with the international law of human rights;
• human rights ‘enforcement' mechanisms: the UN Human Rights Council, the human rights treaty bodies and human rights regional mechanisms;
• the rights of women and the rights of indigenous peoples;
• threats to rights, particularly counter-terrorism measures;
• application of international human rights law in Australia, including refugee issues; and
• the future development of rights, including collective rights and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBT) rights. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Outline, summarise and/or synthesise a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and significant norms of the international law of human rights;
2. Analyse critically these norms and the flawed mechanisms for their implementation;
3. Analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence;
4. Advocate effectively the progressive development of the international law of human rights;
5. Outline, summarise and/or synthesise a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas appropriately for a variety of audiences;
6. Define, plan and conduct legal research on international human rights law with some independence.

Research-Led Teaching

Many of the workshops are related to the convenor's published and forthcoming research.

Recommended Resources

Adam McBeth, Justine Nolan and Simon Rice, The International Law of Human Rights (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed, 2017)

Rhona Smith, International Human Rights (Oxford University Press, 9th ed, 2020)

Philip Alston and Ryan Goodman, International Human Rights (Oxford University Press, 2012)

Olivier De Schutter, International Human Rights Law: Cases, Materials, Commentary (Cambridge University Press, 2019)

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Human rights mean many things to different people. In week one, we will introduce the topic of human rights by exploring the question: what are human rights? We will also start preparing for the course assessment through workshops on research methods in human rights law scholarship and academic writing.
2	This week we will explore a foundational question in international human rights law: who has the right to have rights? We will analyse this question with a particular focus on statelessness, offshore processing and Indigenous persons in settler colonial societies.
3	In week three, we will cover fundamental principles of international human rights law including extra-territorial application of human rights, derrogation and proportionality. We will do workshops in which we apply these concepts to the right to seek asylum, COVID-19 travel bans and capital punishment.	At the end of week three you will do an online a multiple choice exam worth ten per cent of your grade.
4	In week four, we will consider critical perspectives on human rights with a particular focus on feminist approaches to international law, third world approaches to international law, critical race perspectives and queer theory. We will do workshops in which we apply these critical perspectives to recent Human Rights Committee jurisprudence on climate change and the UN Global Compact on Refugees.
5	In week five we examine two salient issues and their relationship to international human rights law: climate change and the Black Lives Matter movement. We will use all of the theories and methods we have covered in weeks one to four and apply them to our exploration of these topics.
6	In week six, students will either be doing the take home exam or their oral advocacy presentations.	Student presentations and take home exam will be this week

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Multiple choice online quiz	10 %	11/10/2021	*	1
Optional Take-home Assignment	30 %	29/10/2021	19/11/2021	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Optional Oral Advocacy Presentation	30 %	*	19/11/2021	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Optional Research Essay	60 %	15/11/2021	13/12/2021	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Optional Research Proposal	60 %	15/11/2021	13/12/2021	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Multiple choice online quiz

Brief Description: 10 questions testing your knowledge of basic principles of international human rights law (1 mark per question)

Nature of Task: Compulsory, online multiple choice quiz. If you experience unavoidable and extenuating circumstances and cannot sit the quiz at the due date and time, you should apply for an extension to the College of Law student admin team here:

https://law.anu.edu.au/forms/assessment-extension-request

The College will give you one opportunity to sit the quiz, at the same time one week later. This will be your final opportunity to sit the quiz. 

Weighting: 10%

Word Limit: N/A

Duration: The quiz will take approximately 30 minutes to an hour to complete

Release: 11 October 2021, 2pm

Due date: 11 October 2021, 3pm.

Estimated return date: Results will be provided after all students have sat the quiz.

Assessment Criteria: N/A

Assessment Task 2

Optional Take-home Assignment

Brief Description: Students not doing a presentation (see task 3 for details) will do a take home assignment based on a question discussed in workshops in weeks 2-5.

Nature of Task: Students will have a choice of 2-6 essay style questions. They will choose one question to answer.

Weighting: 30%

Word Limit: 1,800

Duration: 1 week

Release: 1pm 22 October 2021

Due date: 5pm 29 October 2021. Late submission is permitted, but a mark penalty will be imposed.

Estimated return date: 19 November 2021 (only if take home assignment is submitted by 5pm 29 October 2021)

Assessment Criteria:

Argument The essay must have a clear argument that is supported by evidence and reaches a convincing conclusion.

Critical analysis The essay must demonstrate critical analysis of either primary or secondary materials.  

Literacy and structure All research papers must have an introduction outlining the argument and the structure of the paper. Your paper must have a conclusion that sums up your argument. Use of subheadings is advisable. The research paper should demonstrate the writing and literacy skills of a contribution to a quality refereed law journal. Typographical errors, poor proofreading and spelling mistakes will lead to a lower mark. AGLC referencing is required.

Assessment Task 3

Optional Oral Advocacy Presentation

Brief Description: There are 12 spots for students wanting to do an oral advocacy presentation. Students who wish to do an oral advocacy presentation will elect to do so in the second week of the course. The chance to do an oral advocacy presentation will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Nature of Task: The topics will be designed in such a way that students will not merely be delivering information but making a persuasive argument. This task will be recorded for the purpose of assessment validation.

Weighting: 30%

Word Limit: N/A

Duration: The presentations will be 15-20 minutes long with 5-10 minutes for questions.

Release: Topics will be assigned in week two.

Due date: Week 6

Estimated return date: 19 November 2021

Assessment Criteria:

Style Presentations must be delivered in an engaging and persuasive manner. Presenters must respond appropriately to questions.

Argument You must present a strong and convincing argument.

Content Your argument must be supported by evidence such as theory, policy, law or empirical data. You are not required to do research beyond the course materials but may do so if you wish.

Assessment Task 4

Optional Research Essay

Nature of Task: Students will have a choice of 3-5 essay questions. They will choose one question to answer. Students must choose to either do the research essay (assessment task 4) or the research proposal (assessment task 5)

Weighting: 60%

Word Limit: 2,400

Release: Topics will be released in week one

Due date: 5pm 15 November 2021. Late submission is permitted, but a mark penalty will be imposed.

Estimated return date: 13 December 2021

Assessment Criteria:

 Research The essay must show significant independent research, including research in primary materials, such as the reports of relevant treaty bodies, and use of secondary materials as appropriate. The paper must be properly referenced and footnoted with a bibliography. Style and referencing must follow the Australian Guide to Legal Citation. 

Argument The essay must have a clear argument that is supported by evidence and reaches a convincing conclusion.

Critical analysis The essay must demonstrate critical analysis of either primary or secondary materials.  

Literacy and structure All research papers must have an introduction outlining the argument and the structure of the paper. Your paper must have a conclusion that sums up your argument. Use of subheadings is advisable. The research paper should demonstrate the writing and literacy skills of a contribution to a quality refereed law journal. Typographical errors, poor proofreading and spelling mistakes will lead to a lower mark.

Assessment Task 5

Optional Research Proposal

Nature of Task: Students will develop a research proposal, which will include a research question, identification of a gap in the literature, statement of significance, methodology, project outline and theoretical framework (if applicable). Students must choose to either do the research essay (assessment task 4) or the research proposal (assessment task 5)

Weighting: 60%

Word Limit: 2,400

Due date: 5pm 15 November 2021. Late submission is permitted, but a mark penalty will be imposed.

Estimated return date: 13 December 2021

Assessment Criteria:

Research The proposal must show significant independent research, including research in primary materials, such as the reports of relevant treaty bodies, and use of secondary materials as appropriate. The paper must be properly referenced and footnoted with a bibliography. Style and referencing must follow the Australian Guide to Legal Citation.

Originality The proposal must outline an original research project. It must identify a gap in the literature and design a robust and feasible research project designed to address the gap in the literature.

Critical analysis The proposal must demonstrate critical analysis of either primary or secondary materials.  

Literacy and structure Research proposals must have the following as a minimum: research question, identification of a gap in the literature, statement of significance, methodology and project outline. The research proposal should demonstrate the writing and literacy skills of a contribution to a quality refereed law journal. Typographical errors, poor proofreading and spelling mistakes will lead to a lower mark.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students