SS6054 - Human Rights and Conflict (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Human Rights and Conflict | ||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
You will develop an understanding of the international human rights framework and consider debates and theories challenging this framework (including a critical assessment of the concept and implementation of the universality of human rights). The module will enable you to evaluate various international conventions on the protection of human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The module will examine violations of human rights in the light of various social and political contexts across the world and gain an understanding of how human rights applies in specific contexts; how such violations impact societies, communities and individuals; and how individuals and organisations work for justice in such harrowing circumstances. In addition, the module will explore issues surrounding cases of historic injustice relating to human rights abuses and atrocities committed in conflicts.
Prior learning requirements
Available for Study Abroad? YES
Syllabus
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights in response to conflict
- International human rights: legal and policy frameworks
- Approaches to human rights and conflict: theories, concepts, debates
- Approaches to human rights and conflict: decolonizing human rights
- Human rights and conflict: local, regional, and international systems
- Approaches to human rights and conflict: actors, interventions, international practice
- Analysis and application of human rights protection mechanisms
- Victims of war: refugees and internally displaced persons
- Protection and security of human rights defenders
- Gender based violence in conflict context
- Human trafficking in conflict zones
- Human rights in post-conflict contexts
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The module will utilise a combination of lectures, seminars, group activities, presentations, and video/film on world-wide violations of human rights. The lectures and seminars will utilise and expect students to use a wide selection of resources available to them in the library and online.
Guest speakers working in the field of human rights will also be invited to present to the class, and students will be encouraged to engage in class discussions analysing specific human rights protection issues and problems.
The lectures, readings, seminars, and class exercises are geared to prepare the students for assessment assignments. The tasks (see assessment strategy below) are aimed at ascertaining whether the student has achieved all learning Outcomes outlined above.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
- LO1. Understand the international human rights framework and be able to compare and contrast various concepts of human rights in specific contexts.
- LO2. Gain the ability to identify human rights violations in conflict contexts.
- LO3. Apply concepts of human rights to specific cases and critically assess impact on societies.
- LO4. Critically assess the impact of human rights interventions on social groups
Assessment strategy
Formative Assessment: Oral presentation of detailed essay plan, 10 mins
Summative Assessment (100%): 3,000 word essay