To give substantive consideration to the developments and operation of the protection of Human Rights in Europe;

To focus on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), while references are also made to the protection of human rights at the national level;

To consider both the theory and practice of human rights law in a specific regional context, that is, Europe;

To examine the challenges and achievement of the Strasbourg system of human rights protection;

To review the approach of the European Court of Human Rights to key human rights such as right to life, prohibition of torture and right to privacy..

(LO1) To be able to put into practice principles and techniques of advanced legal research; show an understanding of the relevant social, economic, political, constitutional, historical and cultural contexts within which Human Rights in Europe operate.

(LO2) To identify, retrieve, analyse, evaluate and interpret the principal source materials within which Human Rights in Europe operate, both in paper and electronic form, including national statutes, national, European and international law reports, case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, and other relevant materials as appropriate.

(LO3) To apply legal knowledge to a practical situation and draw reasoned conclusions supported by legal authority.

(LO4) To understand and employ English, European and international legal terminology, both orally and in writing, to explain and convey technical legal information at an advanced level.

(LO5) To demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the ECHR system.

(LO6) To demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights related to specific Articles of the Convention.

(LO7) To demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the system of implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

(LO8) To understand the institutional procedural requirements for bringing Human Rights claims.

(LO9) To synthesise information from primary legal sources to achieve detailed knowledge and understanding of the law.

(LO10) To demonstrate advanced legal skills (e.g. critical analysis) necessary to reach a superior understanding of Human Rights in Europe, even if not previously studied at undergraduate level.

(S1) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Problem identification

(S3) Time and project management - Personal organisation

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills – oral

(S5) Develop oral discussion skills by participating in debates and problem-solving exercises.

(S6) Take responsibility for own learning.

(S7) Develop skills in reading, analysing and synthesising different viewpoints and presenting findings/conclusions in clear, comprehensible, structured format, with detailed argumentation where appropriate.

(S8) Capacity to make a critical judgment of the merits of particular arguments and make a reasoned choice between alternative solutions or arguments.

Part 1) The ECHR: the historical development of the Convention; the institutional framework; the legitimacy of the ECtHR; procedures and admissibility;;

Part 2) Interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights;

Part 3) The ECtHR’s case law on specific Convention articles;

Part 4) Implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights

Teaching Method 1 - Seminar
Description: Interactive seminars; students are expected to prepare material in advance and discuss this in the seminar.
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Interactive, research- and student-led seminars