The course "Introduction to International Human Rights Law" provides an overview of the current international system of human rights protection, focusing on the main universal instruments of protection. Students will study the content of the protection provided by selected UN human rights treaties and the respective monitoring mechanisms. Particular attention will be paid to the functioning of the individual complaint procedure. A substantial part of the course will be devoted to the discussion of leading human rights cases decided by UN treaty-based bodies. With a particular focus on the problem of discrimination, students will consider issues such as the problem of ethnic profiling and violence against women.
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (09.04.2025)
The course "Introduction to International Human Rights Law" provides an overview of the current international system of human rights protection, focusing on the main universal instruments of protection. Students will study the content of the protection provided by selected UN human rights treaties and the respective monitoring mechanisms. Particular attention will be paid to the functioning of the individual complaint procedure. A substantial part of the course will be devoted to the discussion of leading human rights cases decided by UN treaty-based bodies. With a particular focus on the problem of discrimination, students will consider issues such as the problem of ethnic profiling and violence against women.
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (09.04.2025)
Requirements to the exam -
1. Attendance of at least 70% of the lectures.
2.Written exam.
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (09.04.2025)
1. Attendance of at least 70% of the lectures.
2.Written exam.
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (09.04.2025)
Syllabus -
The course covers primarily the following topics:
1. History of Human Rights Protection. The role of human rights education
2. Sources of International Human Rights Law (hard law, soft law, ius cogens)
3. Universal mechanisms of protection. The UN System
4. The control mechanisms of the UN treaty system (individual communications, admissibility)
5. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR and ICESCR.
6. Racial discriminations and the ICERD.
7, The role of non-governmental organizations in international human rights law
8. Case law on racial discrimination
9. Women´s discrimination and violence against women
10. CEDAW jurisprudence
11. Migration and Human Rights
12. The concept of vulnerability in human rights law
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (29.08.2025)
The course covers primarily the following topics:
1. History of Human Rights Protection. The role of human rights education
2. Sources of International Human Rights Law (hard law, soft law, ius cogens)
3. Universal mechanisms of protection. The UN System
4. The control mechanisms of the UN treaty system (individual communications, admissibility)
5. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR and ICESCR.
6. Racial discriminations and the ICERD.
7, The role of non-governmental organizations in international human rights law
8. Case law on racial discrimination
9. Women´s discrimination and violence against women
10. CEDAW jurisprudence
11. Migration and Human Rights
12. The concept of vulnerability in human rights law
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (29.08.2025)
Learning resources -
Basic literature:
1. KRIANGSAK KITTICHAISAREE. International human rights law and diplomacy. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020. ISBN 1-83910-219-5.
2. ADDO, Michael K. The legal nature of international human rights. Leiden, the Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2010. ISBN 1-282-94954-3.
3. VERDIRAME, Guglielmo. The UN and human rights: who guards the guardians? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. ISBN 1-107-21825-X.
4. CHESTERMAN, Simon; MALONE, David a VILLALPANDO, Santiago. The Oxford handbook of United Nations treaties. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019. ISBN 0-19-094787-X.
5. JOSEPH, Sarah (Sarah Louise) a MCBETH, Adam. Research handbook on international human rights law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, c2010. ISBN 978-1-84980-055-6.
Other literature:
1. ATAPATTU, Sumudu. UN Human Rights Institutions and the Environment: Synergies, Challenges, Trajectories. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, 2023. ISBN 1000878856.
2. BROWN, Gordon. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the 21st Century: A Living Document in a Changing World. 2. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers, 2016. ISBN 9781783742202. ISSN 2399-6668.
3. GREAR, Anna; KOTZÉ, Louis a ADELMAN, Sam. Research handbook on human rights and the environment. Cheltenham, England: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2015. ISBN 1-78254-443-7.
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (28.08.2025)
Basic literature:
1. KRIANGSAK KITTICHAISAREE. International human rights law and diplomacy. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020. ISBN 1-83910-219-5.
2. ADDO, Michael K. The legal nature of international human rights. Leiden, the Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2010. ISBN 1-282-94954-3.
3. VERDIRAME, Guglielmo. The UN and human rights: who guards the guardians? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. ISBN 1-107-21825-X.
4. CHESTERMAN, Simon; MALONE, David a VILLALPANDO, Santiago. The Oxford handbook of United Nations treaties. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019. ISBN 0-19-094787-X.
5. JOSEPH, Sarah (Sarah Louise) a MCBETH, Adam. Research handbook on international human rights law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, c2010. ISBN 978-1-84980-055-6.
Other literature:
1. ATAPATTU, Sumudu. UN Human Rights Institutions and the Environment: Synergies, Challenges, Trajectories. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, 2023. ISBN 1000878856.
2. BROWN, Gordon. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the 21st Century: A Living Document in a Changing World. 2. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers, 2016. ISBN 9781783742202. ISSN 2399-6668.
3. GREAR, Anna; KOTZÉ, Louis a ADELMAN, Sam. Research handbook on human rights and the environment. Cheltenham, England: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2015. ISBN 1-78254-443-7.
