United Nations protection of human rights

LWM61

This course will take you on a journey of discovering and studying the role of the United Nations in promoting and protecting human rights. The course aims to demonstrate how human rights enjoy an inspiring and effective framework within the UN system and its institutional structure. That framework was set out in the charter of the United Nations which was adopted in the wake of the Second World War and entered into force in October 1945. The course also takes you through the historical development of international human rights law, how human rights law operates under the UN and examines the relevant bodies and specialised agencies in this important legal area.

Study as an individual course

Module A: Mechanisms for human rights protection by United Nations bodies

LWM61A

Historical development of international human rights law
Mechanisms established by UN human rights treaties: general comments by treaty bodies; reporting system and concluding observations; individual complaints; inter-state complaints; visits
Special Procedures established by the UN Commission on Human Rights: country mandates and thematic mandates
Mechanisms under UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution 1235 and ECOSOC resolution 1503

Module B: Substantive rights under United Nations human rights treaties 1

LWM61B

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)

Module C: Substantive rights under United Nations human rights treaties 2

LWM61C

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

Module D: Selected United Nations human rights bodies and specialised agencies

LWM61D

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Assessment

Each module will be assessed by a 45-minute unseen written examination.

Sequence

It is strongly recommended you attempt Module A first.

How to apply

You can either apply for these modules individually or as part of the Postgraduate Laws programme. (In either scenario, they must be studied in order.)

These modules also contribute towards the following specialist pathways for Laws:

Human Rights Law
International Dispute Resolution
International Justice
Law and Development
Public International Law

Apply via Postgraduate Laws.

Study Material

Study material: United Nations protection of human rights

Professor Zoran Pajic

Dr Pajic has been a Visiting Professor at Department of War Studies, King’s College, University of London, since March 2008. He has been living in the UK since 1992, first as a Visiting Professor and British Council Fellow at the University of Essex Centre for Human Rights and since 1995 has held different positions at King's College London (School of Law, British Institute of Human Rights, International Policy Institute). Dr Pajic has held international expert positions at the UN and the International Crisis Group, as well as at the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.