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LAW30470

Academic Year 2026/2027

International Human Rights Law (LAW30470)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Amrei Muller
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module involves the study of the promotion and protection of human rights under international law. It aims to provide students with a substantial grounding in the legal foundations of contemporary international human rights law (IHRL), with a particular emphasis on the International Bill of Rights and the UN human rights treaty system.

The module is structured in three parts. The first part introduces the institutional history of IHRL, its structure, sources, scope of application, as well as the nature and scope of human rights and corresponding state obligations. The second part explores the UN mechanisms that have been set up to review states' efforts to implement their international human rights obligations, including state reporting mechanisms, individual complaint mechanisms and inter-state peer-review mechanisms. In the third part, we focus on discussing selected substantive rights and corresponding state duties, covering both civil and political as well as socio-economic rights.

Throughout all three parts, the module will incorporate the analysis of contemporary challenges to IHRL, such as, for example, its extraterritorial application, the influence of powerful non-state institutions, poverty and inequality, increasing numbers of armed conflicts and levels of military spending, unprecedented private and state surveillance capabilities and the rise of authoritarianism and terrorism/counter-terrorism. Note though that the focus may vary from year to year.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should be able to:
- Explain the origin, justifications, sources and scope of application of IHRL;
- Demonstrate knowledge and understand the nature and scope of human rights and corresponding state obligations under IHRL, including how these rights and obligations impact domestic law and practice;
- Understand and evaluate various international and domestic implementation mechanisms of IHRL (UN treaty bodies, UN Human Rights Council, domestic implementation mechanisms);
- Understand and evaluate substantive rights and corresponding obligations, including in light of contemporary challenges to IHRL;
- Relate and apply IHRL to real-life events and hypothetical fact situations;
- Understand and evaluate the major challenges that the international system for the protection of human rights is facing.

Indicative Module Content:

History, sources and scope of application of International Human Rights Law (IHRL)
Human rights duties and duty-bearers
The United Nations (UN) human rights treaty bodies
The UN Human Rights Council (Universal Periodic Review and Special Procedures)
The human right to life
The human right not to be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (IDTP)
The human right to privacy
The human right to freedom of assembly and association
The human right to health
The human right to housing
(please note that not all topics are covered every year)

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

85
Total

109

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Classes in this module will primarily take place by way of lectures which will incorporate enquiry & problem-based learning, discussions based on mandatory reading, and case-based learning. Students have the opportunity to discuss their questions with the module coordinator and fellow students via Brightspace discussion forum and / or during office hours.

Students on this module are expected to have read and understood the UCD Academic Integrity Policy and the School Protocol on Academic Integrity. Students must ensure that they comply with all requirements laid down therein and avoid academic misconduct. Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence, or other machine learning technology, in their learning on this module. Because this module is assessed by an unseen, invigilated examination, no formal citation methodology is prescribed.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
International Human Rights (LAW20140), International Human Rights Law (LAW27140)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Exam (In-person): Examination: Closed book written examination 2 hours. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
100
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Examination feedback for this module will be provided by means of group feedback on Brightspace by the release of the date for provisional results availability.

Name Role
Dr Amrei Muller Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 09:00 - 10:50
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