Human Rights, 24 credits

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student shall be able to:

• identify and formulate legal issues, within the framework of human rights, in the examination of a given problem,
• identify and apply relevant international and regional sources of human rights law, in the context of a given problem, related to the jurisprudence of the international law system,
• construct legal arguments, in the context of a given problem, in accordance with the established method and sources within this area of law,
• report and analyse, within given time frames and with correct language and formalities, legal memos on the content and application of relevant human rights based on applicable law.

Content

The course addresses selected parts of international law and its protection of human rights (within global and regional legal frameworks). The European Convention of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights is addressed in depth. Civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights are introduced during the course, with certain rights analyzed in detail. The protection of specific groups and current challenges to the system of human rights are examined. Throughout the course, the responsibility of states for human rights violations as well as monitoring mechanisms to protect human rights are discussed. Moreover, the interaction between digitalization and human rights is discussed in the course.

Examinations and grades

Legal Analysis, 3 credits (Code: A008)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Oral and Written Communication, 2 credits (Code: A009)
Grades used are Fail (U) or Pass (G).

Human Rights, 10 credits (Code: A010)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Moot Court, 9 credits (Code: A007)
Grades used are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may determine which grading system is to be used. The grade must be determined by a teacher specifically nominated by the university (the examiner).

In accordance with university regulations on grading systems for first and second-cycle courses and study programmes (Vice-Chancellor’s decision ORU 2018/00929), one of the following grades is to be used: fail (U), pass (G) or pass with distinction (VG). For courses included in an international master’s programme (60 or 120 credits) or offered to the university’s incoming exchange students, the A to F grading scale is to be used. The vice-chancellor, or a person appointed by them, may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special grounds for doing so.

The grades used on this course are Fail (F), Sufficient (E), Satisfactory (D), Good (C), Very Good (B) or Excellent (A).

Comments on grades

In order to obtain a passing final course grade on the entire course, the grade Pass (G) is required on Oral and Written Communication (Code: A009), and the minimum grade required is Sufficient (E) on Human rights (Code: A010), Sufficient (E) on Legal Analysis (Code: A008) and Sufficient (E) on Moot court (Code: A007). The final course grade on the entire course will be a weighted average of the grades on Human rights (Code: A010), Legal Analysis (Code: A008) and Moot court (Code: A007). The grades of the examination forms given according to the grade scale U - G is not included in the weighting of the final course grade.

Modes of assessment

Legal Analysis, 3 credits (Code: A008)
Paper for submission and oral examinations.
If a student does not achieve an approved grade on the written paper, but with a limited effort is deemed to be able to reach it, the student may complete the written paper in accordance with the examiner’s instructions. The supplement shall be completed within five working days from the time the student is assigned the instructions.Oral examinations consisting of group assignments where the student does not attend or fails, may be re-examined if the circumstances allow it. If not, the student is referred to the next time the course is given.

Oral and Written Communication, 2 credits (Code: A009)
Continuous examination.

Human Rights, 10 credits (Code: A010)
Written examination.

Moot Court, 9 credits (Code: A007)
Written submissions and oral examinations.
The examination consists of group assignments, where individual contributions are assessed. If the student does not attend or fails, the student is referred to the next time the course is given.

For students with a documented disability, the university may approve applications for adapted or other modes of assessment.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations.

Specific entry requirements

Basic Course in Law, 30 ECTS credits, and Intermediate Course in Law, 30 ECTS credits (for exchange students).

Introduction to Legal Thinking, 30 ECTS credits, 5 ECTS credits from Public International Law, 15 ECTS credits, 5 ECTS credits from EU Law, 15 ECTS credits and 22.5 ECTS credits in total from Introduction to Digitalization and Legal Tech, 7.5 ECTS credits, Comparative Constitutional Law, 7.5 ECTS credits and Administrative Law, 15 ECTS credits (for programme students only).

For further information, see the university's admission regulations.

Other provisions

The course is taught in English.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

Reading list and other learning resources

Required reading

Leach, Philip
Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights
Oxford University Press, app. 619 pages

Moeckli, Daniel, Shah, Sangeeta & Sivakumaran, Sandesh
International Human Rights Law
Oxford University Press, app. 704 pages

Additions and Comments on the Reading List

The literature is read in the latest edition.

Additional materials, such as articles and case law (of approximately 300 pages) are also part of the required reading.

Some of the literature may be available online and as E-book.