This advanced international human rights law course provides hands-on experiential learning in international human rights law and advocacy through work on client-based human rights projects for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs).  Students will communicate regularly with their partner organization through email and Skype or similar platforms, and meet weekly as a group for lively classroom discussions of readings and of issues that arise in their project work.  The course exposes students to a range of lawyering competencies, using the project work to explore advocacy strategies; develop skills in fact-finding, report-writing, media work, and in engagement with international, regional and national human rights bodies; raise awareness of cross-cultural issues that can arise; provide experience in the interpretation and application of international human rights law; explore choice of remedies; examine ethical questions in human rights advocacy; and work to instill the practice of regular reflection and re-evaluation.

Course format: Classroom session of two hours once a week, and individual weekly one-hour sessions with each student to discuss the student’s project, to include issues of substantive law, research sources and challenges, review of drafts, and reflection on the project experience.

Selection of projects and project partners: Based on each student’s Statement of Interest (submitted as part of the application process), the professor will contact relevant NGOs and IGOs to identify an appropriate project for each student.  

Evaluation: Research and writing project; class participation; discussion in individual weekly meetings.
Enrollment limit: Six (6) students

Enrollment in course:  Through application.  The application form is available from Rachel Thompson, Faculty Support, Waterman Hall. When you register for the course, the computer will initially indicate you are “waitlisted.”  Decisions on applications will be made in November, at which time the Registrar’s Office will be provided with a list of the accepted applicants to enroll them in the course. 

 

Prerequisite: International Human Rights

 

Satisfies Skills requirement.