International Human Rights

This course provides an awareness of the critical concepts and issues of human rights in a concurrent historical and contemporary context. General topics include: an overview of the history and background of the human rights movement; an exploration of the term “human rights” and the type of rights to be protected; an investigation into the causes of human rights violations; an introduction to the institutions established to safeguard, monitor, and enforce human rights; and an exposure to the principal international human rights agreements and instruments. Specific current topics to be addressed will be selected on an on-going basis throughout the semester.