Syllabus

This first part of the module seeks to give students an overview of the special regime of protection for minorities, indigenous peoples, children and women. The module will examine the following five core themes:
 The Concept of Vulnerability under Human Rights Law
 The Minority Rights Regime
 Peoples and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
 Gender and Human Rights
 Children’s Rights

With the aim of providing an overview of each special regime, as well as focusing on specific issues, each session above will address (a) the relevant international legal framework; (b) regional and comparative experiences, and (c) particular contemporary issues of special importance for the selected vulnerable group.
The second part of the module aims at providing a specialised knowledge in one of the areas of the protection of vulnerable groups. Students will join a discussion group on an agreed theme that meet on at least four occasions and which will address a specialised area listed below. The second part of the module will enable students to engage in research and complete a project in one of the following areas:
 Access to Justice: Comparative Constitutional Law and minorities
 Race, Religion and Human Rights
 Indigenous Peoples
 The Muslim Minority in Europe

Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy

The module will be assessed by one 4,000 words assignment to be based on a research topic selected in negotiation with the specialist tutor and the module leader. The coursework will demonstrate the use of research techniques, critical analysis and writing skills appropriate for the programme. Examining a chosen area within the field of study, the essay must demonstrate significant research and should aim to critically evaluate literature available on a chosen subject.

Assessment weighting
Coursework: 100 out of 100

Learning materials

Core readings
Boyle K. & Baldaccini A. (2001) A Critical Evaluation of International Human Rights Approaches to Racism’, in Sandra Fredman, Philip Alston, Gráinne de Búrca (eds.), ‘Discrimination and Human Rights: The Case of Racism. Oxford University Press
Castellino, J. & Domínguez Redondo, E., Minority Rights in Asia (Oxford: OUP, 2006) – Chapter 1
Castellino, J. and Gilbert J., ‘Self-Determination, Indigenous Peoples and Minorities’, Macquarie Law Journal, Vol.3, pp.155-178, 2003
Gilbert, G.(2005) Individuals, Collectivities and Rights, in N. Ghanea and A. Xanthaki (eds.), Minorities, Peoples and Self-Determination. Martinus Nijhoff
Gerschitz, J.M. & Karns, M.P. ‘Transforming Vision into Reality: The Convention on the Rights of the Child’, in Ensalaco, M and Majka, L (eds) Children’s Human Rights: Progress and Challenges for Children Worldwide (Maryland Rowman and Littlefield 2005)
Keane D. (2007) Addressing the Aggravated Meeting Points of Race and Religion Vol. 6, No. 2, Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class 353-391
McKinnon, C. Are Women Human? And Other International Dialogues (2006), Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, chapters 14, 16, 18, 19
Natan, L. (2003) Group rights and Discrimination in International Law. Parts I and II.
Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Parts I and II
Quinn, G. & Degener, T. Human Rights and Disability: The Current Use and Future Potential of United Nations Human Rights Instruments in the Context of Disability (OHCHR, 2002), Part 1 Background: The shift to a human rights framework of reference (pp. 13- 49), available at
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/HRDisabilityen.pdf
Thornberry, P. (2005) Confronting Racial Discrimination: A CERD Perspective’ 5(2) Human Rights Law Review 239