International Human Rights System

By Prof. (Dr.) Y.S.R. Murthy | Vice Chancellor, RV University

Learners enrolled: 596

In this paper, a brief introduction to Human Rights is given and an overview of various theories of rights is done. It also covers Human Rights provisions in the United Nations Charter, International Bill of Human Rights, Core Human Rights Treaties and other International Standards. The work of charter based bodies and treaty-based bodies is taken up for review. The course also covers certain practical aspects like how National Human Rights Institutions and NGO's can feed into the treaty monitoring process. The international system for protection and promotion of Human Rights is supplemented by the regional systems that are available in Europe, Americas, Africa and elsewhere. A thorough discussion on the works of these regional systems is also covered during this course.

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	15 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	4
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	08 Jul 2024
End Date :	31 Oct 2024
Enrollment Ends :	31 Aug 2024
Exam Date :	07 Dec 2024 IST
Exam Shift :	Shift-II

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1 Module 1 - Meaning, Significance & Historical Development Of Human Rights
Week 1 Module 2 - Natural Rights
Week 1 Module 3 - Liberal, Libertarian and Legal Positivist Theories of Rights

Week 2 Module 1 - Communitarian and Feminist Theory of Rights
Week 2 Module 2 - MARXIST THEORY OF RIGHTS

Week 3 Module 1 - HUMAN RIGHTS PROVISIONS IN THE UN CHARTER
Week 3 Module 2 - UN General Assembly: Mandate of UN General Assembly for the protectionand promotion of Human Rights
Week 3 Module 3 - UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Week 4 Module 1 - Economic and Social Council
Week 4 Module 2 - UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Week 4 Module 3 - THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN

Week 5 Module 1 - UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Week 5 Module 2 - COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Week 5 Module 3 - INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Week 6 Module 1 - HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL; BIRTH OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - COMPARISON BETWEEN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Week 6 Module 2 - HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: UN SECRETARY GENERAL' S REPORT; "IN LARGER FREEDOM TOWARDS SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL

Week 7 Module 1 - UN Women
Week 7 Module 2 - THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAM (UN-HABITAT)
Week 7 Module 3 - THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR)

Week 8 Module 1 - UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
Week 8 Module 2 - Treaty-based procedures
Week 8 Module 3 - Treaty-based procedures Part B. TREATY-BASED BODIES

Week 9 Module 1 - TREATY-BASED PROCEDURES: OVERVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Week 9 Module 2 - OVERVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
Week 9 Module 3 - CHARTER-BASED PROCEDURES: A) THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Week 10 Module 1 - CHARTER-BASED PROCEDURES: HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL SPECIAL PROCEDURES
Week 10 Module 2 - Universal Periodic Review
Week 10 Module 3 - FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)

Week 11 Module 1 - INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO)
Week 11 Module 2 - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
Week 11 Module 3 - THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF)
Week 11 Module 4 - UNESCO

Week 12 Module 1 - THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND ITS INSTITUTIONS
Week 12 Module 2 - EUROPEAN SOCIAL CHARTER AND THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF SOCIAL RIGHTS
Week 12 Module 3 - OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES
Week 12 Module 4 - ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE

Week 13 Module 1 - REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM IN AFRICA 1
Week 13 Module 2 - REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM IN THE AMERICAS
Week 13 Module 3 - INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM (MONITORING BODIES)

Week 14 Module 1 - ASIAN MECHANISM: REVIEW OF EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A SOUTH ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISM
Week 14 Module 2 - ARAB REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS
Week 14 Module 3 - THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Week 15 Module 1 - INTRODUCTION TO NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION SYSTEM

Instructor bio

Prof. (Dr.) Y.S.R. Murthy

Vice Chancellor, RV University

Prof. (Dr.) Y.S.R. Murthy assumed charge as the First Vice Chancellor of RV University recently. As a former civil servant from the 1985 batch of IAS and Allied Services, he held many responsible and sensitive assignments including in the National Human Rights Commission, Prime Minister’s Office, President’s Secretariat and Cabinet Secretariat. Between 2009 and 2020, Dr. Murthy steered the O.P. Jindal Global University during its rapid expansion phase as a part of its top leadership team as the Registrar. He contributed to its rise in international rankings and becoming an Institution of Eminence (IOE).

He served in the National Human Rights Commission of India in various capacities for over 12 years including as the Director, Policy Research, Programmes and Projects Division. He spearheaded the Commission’s advocacy and monitoring efforts, among others, in the areas of public health, HIV/AIDS and rights of persons with disabilities.

Prof. Murthy has published several books, book chapters and journal articles. His books on `Halsbury’s Laws of India - Human Rights’ and `Human Rights Handbook’ were published by LexisNexis Butterworths. He edited NHRC’s Annual Journal on Human Rights for several years.

He holds a Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Statistics from the University of Madras, M.A. degree in Human Rights from the University of London and Ph.D. degree from the Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai. He secured University First Rank in M.Sc. and also the prestigious British Chevening Fellowship.

Dr. Murthy has been elected as the Vice President of Indian Society of International Law (ISIL) for a three-year term between 2018 and 2021. He is a National Coordinator of SWAYAM, besides being a Member of the Association of British Scholars. In 2019, Dr. Murthy was appointed as the Member, Haryana State Higher Education Council. He is consulted by the Government of Kerala, IGNOU, JNU, Delhi University and some prominent human rights organisations.

Course certificate

Assessment/Assignment marks will be considered for Internal Marks and will carry 30 percent for overall Result.

End Term Exam- will have 100 questions and will carry 70 percent of overall Result.

All students, who obtain 40% marks in in-course assessment and 40% marks in end-term proctored exam separately, will be eligible for certificate and credit transfer.

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