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#International Human Rights Law and Practice - Study - Centre for the Study of Human Rights

• Ten week Monday evening course - CPD accredited
• 12 October - 14 December 2015 Book Now

In today's legal, policy and business worlds, international human rights law affects the way all of us work, either explicitly or implicitly. A knowledge of international human rights standards is increasingly required. Therefore those involved in the legal professions - whether as barristers, solicitors, employed lawyers or judges - and those involved in government, public policy and business, need to have a solid understanding of the breadth and depth of human rights principles. So too do increasing numbers of those involved in NGOs and in civil society work generally.

Course components

• Human rights: philosophy, politics or law? Background, history and foundational principles
• Regional mechanisms for promoting and protecting human rights
• The international institutional framework for promoting and protecting human rights
• Defending civil rights: prohibiting torture, protecting life, guaranteeing a fair trial and preventing arbitrary detention
• Economic, social and cultural rights and how they are enforced
• Human rights as democratic values: participatory rights in practice
• The relationship between international human rights and rights of refugees
• Equality and minority rights: the enforcement of protection from discrimination
• People s rights: indigenous people, the right to self-determination and third generation rights
• Rights in the private sphere: non-state actors, paramilitary organisations, regulating business and other private relationships

Why take this course?

• Delivers a comprehensive understanding of internationally recognised human rights instruments and standards
• Explains how human rights standards work and shows how they can be applied in practice
• Offers access to leading human rights practitioners and academics
• Provides a coherent account of international human rights institutions
• Shows the relevance of international human rights law to domestic law
• Identifies how human rights standards influence the development of law and policy
• Improves critical awareness of key issues in contemporary human rights

Participants will be provided with detailed course materials (essential and additional readings for each session) and a full set of International Human Rights Law documents. They will also have full access and borrowing rights at the LSE Library for the duration of the course.

Teachers

This course is taught by a team of leading barristers and distinguished academic experts. In 2014 these were:

• Iain Byrne. Acting Head of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Team, Amnesty International, and Fellow at Essex University's Human Rights Centre.
• Professor Christine Chinkin FBA, Professor of International Law at LSE, member of Matrix Chambers and member of the Kosovo Human Rights Advisory Panel constituted by UNMIK.
• Professor Andrew Clapham. Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute of International Studies Institute and former Representative of Amnesty International to the United Nations in New York.
• Jonathan Cooper OBE, human rights specialist with experience before English and International courts and tribunals, as well as conducting training and advising on human rights issues in jurisdictions all over the world.
• Jane Gordon. LSE Visiting Fellow, independent human rights advisor to statutory and public agencies, and accredited gender and sexual violence expert with UN Women.
• Raza Husain QC, barrister at Matrix Chambers specialising in public law, with an emphasis on immigration and human rights.
• Dr James Irving. lawyer qualified in Victoria (Australia) and New York, LSE Guest Teacher and founder of the LLM course The International Law of Self-Determination".
• Professor Philip Leach. Professor of Human Rights, a solicitor, and Director of EHRAC, the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre, at Middlesex University
• Professor Susan Marks. Professor of International Law at LSE.
• Professor Aileen McColgan. Professor of Human Rights Law at Kings College London, member of Matrix Chambers and the British expert on the EU Commission's network of gender equality legal experts.

The course is convened, and each session chaired, by Madeleine Colvin. Madeleine is a human rights lawyer who worked for several human rights organisations including Liberty and JUSTICE. She is the author of publications on surveillance and privacy. She is currently a human rights consultant and a part-time Immigration Judge. She is an Associate Tenant at Doughty Street Chambers, and a practising mediator focusing on equality issues.

What past participants say

"I have enjoyed the course tremendously. I found it engaging and thought-provoking, bringing to life areas of international human rights law which I have only read about."

All the lecturers were very knowledgeable, leaders in their field and enormously experienced."

"It has been an excellent course which will stand me in very good stead for developing further my organisation's policy and advocacy work."

"The course exceeded my expectations."

"I have a Masters in human rights and felt this course offered an in-depth overview of the key rights topics and gave me the legal focus that I was seeking"

"The course provided an up to date and sophisticated picture of the political context - a crucial part of the law of human rights that other courses don't cover"

Fees and administration

1. The standard course fee is 1,970 - Book Now
2. LSE students, alumni and staff are entitled to a 10% discount.
3. The Centre is able to offer up to five subsidised places, at 985, in support of those who would otherwise be unable to take the course.

10% Discount for LSE students, alumni and staff: In order to claim the discounted rate ( 1,773) LSE alumni, student and staff should contact the Centre Manager from their LSE email account, or in the case of alumni, with details of the programme they took. Once eligibility is verified, the discount code will be provided and applicants can then book online.

Subsidised places for those who would otherwise be unable to attend: Applications for subsidised places will be competitively assessed together after the deadline of Noon, Thursday 3 September, and places will be awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. Subsidised place application form (MS word doc)

Priority will be given to those working in non-governmental or voluntary sector organisations who are able to demonstrate a clear benefit to that organisation beyond their personal education and professional development.

Please note that if your application for subsidised place is not successful you will not be guaranteed a full-price place on the course as standard places are booked on a first-come first-served basis.

Further queries

Please note that while we welcome participants from overseas, the Centre is regrettably not able to provide any additional assistance, financial or practical, in the securing of travel to, or accommodation in, London.