Residential Short Course – International Human Rights Law
Nottingham, September/October 2012 – December 2012 and/or January 2013 – March 2013 (3 months or 6 months)
A six month course version is also available, which includes either a three month internship at a non-governmental organisation (NGO) or in the Human Rights Law Centre, or further research study in the Centre.
Course Content
This course covers the breadth of international human rights standards and systems. Participants will take four compulsory seminar modules as well as LLM lecture modules. Courses are led by Prof. David Harris, former member of the European Committee of Social Rights and Prof. Michael O'Flaherty, member of the UN Human Rights Committee.
Induction Programme (Seminar)
● Study Techniques;
● Human Rights Treaties;
● Cases and Materials;
● Using IT in human rights research;
● Use of library resources;
● Meetings with personal tutor;
● Introduction to HRLC projects and staff;
● Presentation techniques;
● Welcome and networking event.
International Human Rights Law
This module covers the UN human rights treaties and declarations and the work of the UN Human Rights Council and UN human rights treaty monitoring bodies and Special Procedures. Emphasis is placed on giving an up-to-date account of the cases and other practice of the UN and regional bodies that interpret and apply these treaties. Emphasis will be placed on the most recent developments in the practice and reform of international human rights systems. Typical seminars include:
● UN Human Rights Council;
● Human Rights Treaty Bodies;
● UN Special Procedures.
There are also seminars on the regional human rights systems. Typical seminars include:
● European Convention on Human Rights;
● American Convention on Human Rights;
● African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
LLM Modules
Participants also take modules from the prestigious LLM programme. The School of Law is ranked in the top five UK Law Schools, receiving an ‘Excellent’ ranking in the latest national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Our Professors and Lecturers are widely recognised to be world-leading experts in their disciplines. Typical modules would include:
● Access to Justice in International Law;
● Counter-Terrorism and International Law;
● Criminal Law and Globalisation;
● European Law of Human Rights;
● Fair Trials;
● Human Rights and Criminal Justice;
● Foundations of International Criminal Justice;
● Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights;
● Governance of the European Union;
● Human Rights Protection in the UK;
● Imprisonment and Human Rights;
● International and Comparative Penal Law and Human Rights;
● International Criminal Law: Institutions;
● International Criminal Law: Substantive Law and Process;
● International Human Rights Field Operations: Law in Practice;
● International Humanitarian Law;
● Introduction to International Human Rights Law;
● International Protection of Refugees and Internally Displaced People;
● Issues in Human Rights Law;
● Mental Disability and International Human Rights;
● Post-Conflict Situations and International Law;
● The Rights of the Child;
● World Trade Organisation Law and Policy.
Attendance at HRLC human rights lectures, seminars and conferences
● Short Course participants are invited to attend the regular HRLC programmes, in addition to other ad hoc events that occur throughout the year: Annual Conference November ; Paragon Lecture, December; Spring Lecture, January/February; Student Conference, March; Human Rights Film Series, every other Wednesday.
● Visits to institutions and NGO’s provide participants to engage with practitioners, in their work setting, experiencing the realities of prison life and management, witnessing a criminal hearing in the Criminal Court, meeting magistrates, police, prosecutors and NGO’s. A visit to the University of Cambridge is also organised. Typical visits include: Nottingham Criminal Courts, a prison visit, a local NGO visit; University of Cambridge visit
● Students have the opportunity to research and write a short research paper on a subject of their choice. The paper will be submitted towards the end of the programme.
● Short Course students will receive a certificate of attendance, accredited by the University of Nottingham Human Rights Law Centre.
Participants
The course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of human rights standards across the world, for those currently working in human rights or related fields, and for those entering such fields. Participants frequently come from NGOs, international organisations, government, charities, legal professions and academia. Places are limited to ten people in each course. Students from many countries worldwide have taken the course, including students from Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Colombia, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, USA and Zimbabwe. Our Alumni includes graduate students, ministry of foreign affairs and Attorney General officials, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, ombudsmen, UN field operations, NGO and national human rights commission staff, army and police officers.
Language
As the programme is taught in English, participants are required to demonstrate an overall score of 6.5 in a British Council English Language Test or a TOEFL score of 600, or otherwise demonstrate sufficient English language skills.
Speakers
The Short Course programme speakers are carefully selected to include a balance of experts, practitioners and academics or researchers, many of whom work in practice and in academia, providing insight, practitioner experience and theoretical insight into the subjects they teach: their hands-on experience provides a unique environment for exchange and dialogue.
● Professor David Harris, HRLC Co-Chair;
● Professor Michael O'Flaherty, HRLC Co-Chair;
● Carla Buckley, Research Associate;
● Daria Davitti, PhD Candidate and former UNAMA Human Rights Officer;
● Professor Peter Bartlett, Professor of Mental Health Law and Project Director, Lesotho;
● Professor Alastair Mowbray, Professor of Public Law;
● Professor Therese Murphy, Professor of Law and Critical Theory;
● Professor Paul Roberts, Professor of Criminal Jurisprudence;
● Professor Dirk Van Zyl Smit, Professor of Comparative and International Penal Law;
● Professor Jeff Kenner, Professor of European Law;
● Professor Vanessa Munro, Professor of Socio-Legal Studies;
● Professor Noel Whitty, Professor of Human Rights Law;
● Professor Mary Footer, Professor of International Economic Law;
● Professor Nigel White, Professor of Public International Law;
● Dino Kritsiotis, Chair in Public International Law;
● Dr Olympia Bekou, Associate Professor and Head of International Criminal Justice Unit;
● Ralph Sandland, Associate Professor;
● Sandesh Sivakumaran, Lecturer in Law;
● Sangeeta Shah, Lecturer in Law.
In addition to regular Short Course speakers and trainers, a number of high profile, international experts and practitioners will hold seminars and workshops. In recent programmes guest speakers have included: Professor Brice Dickson, Queens University, Belfast; Helen Duffy, INTERIGHTS; Morten Kjaerum, Director, FRA, Vienna; Manfred Nowak, University of Vienna; William Schabas, University of Galway and Leiden, etc.
Method
The Short Course programme includes seminars, lectures, group work and presentations.
● The programme is taught in English: participants are required to demonstrate an overall score of 6.5 in a British Council English Language Test or a TOEFL score of 600 or otherwise demonstrate sufficient English language skills.
● Each student will be assigned a personal tutor in the first week of the programme, who will discuss the interests and goals of the student for the Short Course programme, directing them to relevant sources, and practices. Meetings will take place on a regular basis throughout the programme.
● The Short Course begins with a series of seminars on study techniques, including using the internet and online databases for human rights research. A tour of the world-class Hallward Library will take place, ensuring that participants are familiar with the library resources and its catalogue system.
● Reading materials will be distributed to Short Course students in advance of each seminar, and should be read before the session. The amount of time this will take will depend of the participants familiarity with the topics and reading in English, but should be approximately two hours.
● Short Course seminars provide an intimate environment for Short Course students; sessions are fully participatory, involving discussion, case studies and presentation. In LL.M seminars, students will have the opportunity to discuss human rights issues with LL.M students from many countries worldwide.
● Students will take four modules on the LL.M programme, where they will join lectures with the LL.M students. Lectures provide a detailed insight into each of the module topics, and benefit from the experiences of the postgraduate student community, alongside the expertise of the Lecturer/Professor.
● Students will also be invited to make presentations of their human rights work and interests, following a seminar that introduces presentation techniques.
● Students on the six-month programme who opt for an internship will liaise with the personal tutor to identify their interests, following which HRLC will arrange a placement.
● Visits to institutions and two NGOs help students to engage with practitioners, in their work setting, experiencing the realities of prison life and management, witnessing a criminal hearing in the Criminal Court, meeting magistrates, police, prosecutors and NGOs.
● Students on the six-month programme who opt to stay in Nottingham can choose to complete a three-month supervised research project, following discussions with their personal tutor.
Deadline
Since a maximum of ten students will be accepted on any programme, early application is encouraged. Application deadline: 1 September 2012.
Fees
● International participants: £2,950 (3 months) / £3,500 (3 months + internship, visa permitting) / £5,900 (6 months)
● UK and EU participants: £1,950 (3 months) / £2,500 (3 months + internship, visa permitting) / £3,900 (6 months)
● Successful applicants will be required to provide a fixed deposit of £500.00, upon receipt of the deposit, you will receive supporting documents and details of the programme.
● Applicants are responsible for their own travel arrangements, obtaining a visa if needed and should allow sufficient time to make these arrangements when planning their application.
Fellowhips
HRLC is occasionally able to offer Fellowships, through a competitive application process. These details will be advertised on the HRLC website and through a number of lists. Applicants are requested not to contact HRLC speculatively in this regard: emails in this regard will not receive a response.
Application
There is no specific application form. The following information must be sent by email or by post:
● Detailed and up-to-date CV;
● A 500 word statement indicating why you should be offered a place on the course;
● Brief details on how you would be funded;
● Applicants whose first language is not English: you must demonstrate an overall score of 6.5 in a British Council English Language Test or a TOEFL score of 600, or otherwise demonstrate sufficient English language skills.
Completed applications should be sent to: Miss Kobie Neita, Human Rights Law Centre, School of Law, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Tel: +44 (0)115 84 66309, Fax: +44 (0)115 84 66 579; Email: kobie.neita@nottingham.ac.uk. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please contact Miss Kobie Neita if you have any difficulty in meeting the application details above.
Travel and visa arrangements
Applicants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and visa (if applicable), and should allow sufficient time to make these arrangements when planning their application. HRLC will provide support to successful applicants in this regard, however, it is the applicants responsibility to ensure their arrival at the beginning of the programme.
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