International Courts & Human Rights

4 credits · Undergraduate

We will discuss the modern system of international human rights protection, its history, its various components, its successes, and its shortcomings. Using primary legal texts and case decisions, as well as textbook excerpts and scholarly critiques, we will examine which rights are considered fundamental and how the interpretation of those rights has expanded over time. We will compare the courts and quasi-judicial bodies that protect human rights, including their jurisdiction, competencies, and impact. Finally, we will discuss the roles and strategies of the various actors involved, including grassroots activists and elected judges.