Course Catalogue

Human Rights Systems: Law and Legitimacy LAW4204

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Law
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course covers the most important human rights systems currently in operation at the global and regional levels (UN treaty bodies, European Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, African Court on Human and Peoples' rights). The course addresses the substantive norms, procedures, predominant case law and the implementation mecahnisms that are distinctive for each system. The course then discusses if and how these systems are or can be legitimate and if the same standards of legitimacy can apply to all the systems under examination.

Timetable

Weekly Seminars, Tuesdays, 3pm-5pm

Requirements of Entry

This course is only available to LLB students.

 

Public International Law recommended but not required.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

One 5000 word essay on a topic of the student's choice, which may build on the 'Questions to Consider' outlined in the course document for each seminar.

Course Aims

The aim of the course is to introduce students to core materials relating to international and regional human rights protection. The course will cover doctrinal legal aspects and will introduce underlying considerations of normative theory and will teach participants the skills to critically analyse and connect both areas of debate.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Reconstruct, distinguish, and evaluate the defining features of global and regional human rights systems

■ Demonstrate understanding of the substantive norms, procedures, case law and implementation mecahnisms of each system

■ Analyse the debates on the legitimacy of human rights systems

■ Establish and critique connections between the doctrinal aspects and the legitimacy of human rights systems

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions