JUS5710 – International Human Rights Law: Institutions and Procedures
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The international legal protection of human rights has mainly developed since the end of World War II as a fundamental part of the world order aimed at securing peace and stability, the self-determination of peoples and sustainable development for all. The United Nations and regional organisations, most notably the Council of Europe, have taken the lead in ensuring respect for human rights through international legal and political mechanisms involving states, individuals, groups, NGOs and businesses. This course unfolds the institutions, treaties, procedures and practices of these intergovernmental organisations, providing perspectives on the evolving rules and normative standards defining international human rights, the actors involved, and the processes and means by which they are monitored and their implementation is promoted. Students will gain knowledge about (1) institutions and procedures; (2) selected rights and the obligation of states, and (3) analyze challenges and achievements of the international human rights regime through country studies.
For students enrolled in Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master): Have you considered a specialization as part of your degree? The course is part of the profile Internasjonal rett og menneskerettigheter.
Learning outcome
The aim of this course is to provide you with a good understanding of the institutions and mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights at universal and regional levels. After completing this course, you will have a good understanding of different aspects the institutions and procedures presented in the course and human rights cases from different international organs. You should be able to identify legal issues of factual situations, assemble, and use relevant sources for resolving legal questions within the field of human rights, and have the ability to describe and critically analyze achievements and shortcomings of the international protection of human rights.
Read more about learning outcomes and achievement requirements
Admission
You may register for this course if you have admission to a Master’s programme at UiO or the faculty's exchange programme. You can also register for this course if you do not have admission to any programme at UiO, but meet the formal prerequistites.
All students are required meet the formal prerequistites.
Have you met the formal prerequisites at another institution than the University of Oslo, and the results are not formally registered at UiO, you must apply for admission to courses at Master’s level . Students with admission to Master’s degree programmes at other faculties than The Faculty of Law must also apply for admission.
When your admission is in order you must register for courses in StudentWeb
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must fill one of these requirements:
- Passed 1st - 3rd year of the 5-years degree Master of Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) (or exams that qualify for exemption for these) or
- Hold a 5-years Master’s degree in Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.
Exemptions from the formal prerequisites will be given to students with admission to the faculty's own exchange or master’s degree programmes. This rule does not apply to students with admission to other master’s degree programmes at the University of Oslo, unless otherwise agreed.
Recommended previous knowledge
Three years of law studies.
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with JUR5700 – Internasjonale menneskerettigheter (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUR1710 – International Human Rights Law: Institutions and Procedures (BA)
- 5 credits overlap with JUR1700 – Internasjonale menneskerettigheter (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with HUMR4110 – International Human Rights Law: Institutions and Procedures (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with VALINTHUM – Introduction to Human Rights Law (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with PILINTHUM – Introduction to Human Rights Law (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUTINTHUM – Introduction to Human Rights Law (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUVOINMR
- 5 credits overlap with ISSJF4711 - Human Rights
- 10 credits overlap with JUR5710 – International Human Rights Law: Institutions and Procedures (discontinued)
- 5 credits overlap with HUMR4140 – Introduction to Human Rights Law (discontinued)
- 5 credits overlap with HUMR5140 – Human rights in international and national law
Teaching
Lectures/seminars.
Language of teaching for this course is English. This means that all
communication during lectures/seminars will be in English, and all
literature and auxiliary materials are in English.
Examination
24 hour written home exam
3000 words on master’s level and 2500 words on bachelor’s level.
Footnotes should be included in the word count of the main text. Not included in this count: front page (title etc.), summary, table of contents and references (bibliography). (If relevant for the paper).
Assignments/papers with text exceeding the word limit will not be accepted.
Examination support material
This is an open book exam. Candidates may therefore make use of all available sources during the examination period.
Your exam paper must be an independent work. Exam candidates are not permitted to communicate with other persons about the exam question(s) or distribute draft answers or exam answers.
General rules on exam support materials
Use of sources and rules for citing
Familiarize yourself with the use of sources and citations in legal writing. In an exam situation, using other people’s material without declaring it in a clear manner may be considered cheating or an attempt at cheating. You must cite any sources you draw on.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Marking criteria for written examination
This guide is used by examiners for grading elective courses at the Faculty of Law.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Resitting an examination.
- There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take this exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.
Other
The language for this course is English. Students enrolled in the
Masterprogrammet i rettsvitenskap must pass one
English subject as part of their degree, this course will meet these
obligations.
This subject is taught at Master 's level as a 15 credit course. The subject is also taught as a 10 ECTS credits course at Master's level, please please see HUMR4110 – International Human Rights Law: Institutions and Procedures (discontinued). The subject is also taught at Bachelor's level (10 ECTS credits), see JUR1710 – International Human Rights Law: Institutions and Procedures (BA). Please see the chapter above, regarding overlap. For instances of overlap, credits will be deducted on the subject at Bachelors's level.