Middlesex University London
Confidence Crisis in Human Rights: Implications for the UK
30 June 2014 - 4 July 2014

This intensive course on the challenges faced by the international human rights regime is part of the 2014 Summer School at the Middlesex University London.

The objective of this course is to provide participants with an understanding of the legal basis underpinning the creation of human rights standards and organs through the prism of topics considered a priority on the international human rights agenda. By the end of the course participants will be able to analyse the impact of international and national politics on the structures and functions of human rights mechanisms, be able to critically evaluate the existing system, and identify current and potential strategies for effective functioning within it.Structure
The five-day course is divided into three parts. On the first day, students will be introduced to the events and ideologies that have resulted in a situation where countries that once led the creation of human rights norms and monitoring mechanisms at international level, are now distancing themselves from these.
Days two, three and four, forming the second part, will focus on incendiary and divisive human rights topics that dominate intergovernmental agendas, in particular:
• The rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
• The consequences for human rights of austerity measures and migration policies.
• A critical examination of the role of the United Nations Security Council and international law in conflict zones.

The third part will focus on emerging themes and challenges represented by the applicability of the human rights framework, with the activities undertaken by corporations, and the relationship between development projects, the environment and human rights driving the discussion during the last day.

Recommended for:
The course is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students with an interest in human rights, international and domestic civil servants, and organisations engaged with international and national human rights monitoring bodies and processes. It would be of particular interest to journalists and those interested in understanding the different strategies for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The full course schedule, biographies of the lecturers and information on fees and how to apply, can be found here.