Human Rights & International Humanitarian Law ((3 Credits))

Catalog description

The course provides a comprehensive understanding of international human rights and international humanitarian law and how both bodies of law complement each other. The course examines in great detail the various aspects and controversies in the human rights debate and considers the obstacles to the implementation of human rights as universal norms. It traces the evolution of international humanitarian law from the beginning of the 19th century to the present. Moreover, the course examines the concept of war and how it has changed since the end of World War II; the threat posed by terrorist and extremist groups; the difficulty of distinguishing civilians from combatants on the battlefields; and the role and contribution of the United Nations and its successes and failures in developing and enforcing human rights norms. The course ends by examining the role of international tribunals in enforcing international humanitarian law and its prosecution of individuals who violated the law. Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Ethics or U.S. History, familiarity with the United Nations.