Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit examines key principles, institutions, organisations, treaties and cases of international human rights law. The development of international human rights law and its historical, political and cultural context is explored, along with debates concerning the theoretical justification for the protection of human rights. Institutional frameworks and procedures for development, interpretation and enforcement are examined. Selected substantive issues of human rights are included as a means of engaging with specific treaties and cases and also in exploring the role of State and non-State actors. Methods of implementation and enforcement of human rights in the international sphere, through both global and regional instruments and institutions are presented and critiqued.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) identify the key sources of international human rights law and assess and apply them to real-life human rights violations; (2) critique key international instruments and institutions for human rights and critically analyse their historical, cultural and legal significance and their relationship with domestic and regional human rights law; (3) use appropriate research methods to identify theoretical, institutional, judicial and academic sources, critically evaluate them and use them to answer complex questions in relation to human rights; and (4) effectively communicate, both in writing and orally, analyses and conclusions in relation to questions of international human rights law.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) research essay; (2) in-class presentation; and (3) class participation (including pre-class activities on LMS). Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Fiona McGaughey
- Unit rules
- Note
- Attendance at all face-to-face sessions is mandatory and there are pre-class activities to be completed also, available on LMS.
- Texts
Adam McBeth, Justine Nolan and Simon Rice, The International Law of Human Rights, (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed. 2017)
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.