LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
Faculty of Law
LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Law. It isn't offered in 2027. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2027
- Other periods
- Monash Law Chambers
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
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Requisites
Before LAW5304
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After LAW5304
No unit lists LAW5304 as a prerequisite in the 2027 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Juris Doctor students (L6005) who commenced their course in or before 2026 must have completed a minimum of 72 credit points of study.
Juris Doctor students (L6005) who commenced their course in 2027 or later must have completed a minimum of 60 credit points of study.
Overview
This unit is an overview of international human rights law, providing the requisite foundational knowledge for further study and practise in this area. After a brief introduction to public international law, the unit focuses on international human rights law concepts, including the competing theoretical and philosophical foundations of international human rights law, the historical development of modern international human rights law, and the debates surrounding universal, culturally relative and/or the pluralistic nature of human rights. It also provides detailed analysis of the international human rights institutions and enforcement mechanisms, focussing on the United Nations Charter- and Treaty-based systems. After a critical exploration of the different types of rights and the debates surrounding hierarchy and justiciability of rights, the unit focuses on the scope and content of civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. The unit examines the various methods and criteria for restricting the application of rights, including the derogation and limitations mechanisms. It includes an assessment of the relevance of international human rights law to Australian law and practice.
Offerings in 2027
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | Monash Law Chambers | On campus, block |
| Trimester 3 | Monash Law Chambers | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Research Essay PlanWritten20%
- PodcastArtefact20%
- Research EssayWritten60%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Apply knowledge and understanding of foundational concepts, as well as a range of current controversies and recent developments, in relation to international human rights law, with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning.
- 2
Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to international human rights law, and critically evaluate the effectiveness of modern international human rights law and its mechanisms in redressing violations of human rights.
- 3
Conduct research in the area of international human rights law, including its relevance to domestic law, based on knowledge of appropriate research principles and methods.
- 4
Use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate at an abstract level complex ideas and concepts relevant to international human rights law.
- 5
Use both oral and written communication skills to communicate complex ideas persuasively to a diverse audience.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit typically comprises of a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study applicable to a 6 credit point unit. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning, and online engagement.
Learning resources
Required resources
See the Moodle unit page for prescribed and recommended resources. Prescribed texts are usually available for purchase through the University Bookstore and are sometimes available for short-term loan or as eBooks through the library.
Where it fits
LAW5304 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2027 handbook.
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW5304?
LAW5304 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is LAW5304 offered?
LAW5304 has no offerings listed in the 2027 handbook.
Does LAW5304 have an exam?
No. LAW5304 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include LAW5304?
LAW5304 is part of Global society and human rights; and Public sector governance and regulation.