This module will introduce students to the study of human rights. The aim of the module is: (i)to introduce students to a range of human rights issues and abuses at both local (Ireland) and global (international) levels and to provide theoretical and practical frameworks for understanding human rights issues .(ii)to develop students’ understanding of the law in this area, including the legal and statutory instruments relevant to human rights law in Ireland (Irish constitution & case law) and internationally (e.g. UN Declarations, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights).(iii)to develop an understanding of the institutions established to protect human rights at national (Ireland) and international (Europe e.g. European Court of Human Rights, and United Nations) levels. (iv)to introduce students to the work of human rights organisations in the non-governmental organisations (ngo) sector. (v)to enable students to gain skills in becoming active advocates in raising awareness about human rights for practice in the community development and youth work sector.
Introduction and Nature of Human Rights
Issues, Instruments and Institutions: A framework for learning about human rights.Consideration of a number of human rights issues from the following; the areas of life and liberty, death penalty, torture, human trafficking, child labour, gender-based violence, personal rights, right to privacy, property rights, civil and political rights, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, war crimes, genocide etc. civil and political rights; economic social and cultural rights.
Human Rights in the Irish Context
Introduction and background to the Irish constitution An examination of relevant human rights articles of the constitution and their development by the courts. An examination of the relevant case law An examination of the law and functions of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. An examination of the significance of the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 on Irish law.Human rights relevant to issues in community development and youth work in Ireland, in particular, right to housing, water, education, healthcare, climate change and human rights, international protection and asylum, freedom from racial discrimination, rights of indigenous peoples (minorities), convention on the status of refugees 1951.
Human Rights in the International Context
History of Human Rights. Early development of the U.N. and organisational structure. Other UN organisations such as the International Criminal Court, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Background and development of the European Convention on Human Rights. Role of the European Court of Human Rights and criteria to satisfy in order to take a case to the Court. Review of relevant case law.
An Examination of the U.N. Conventions impacting on Ireland such as:
Conventions on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, International Covenant on Civil and Political rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Assessments of official reports from the U.N. to the Irish government in relation to Ireland’s obligation under the above conventions.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 30 |
| Formal Examination | 70 |