Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 101573

Coordinator Melissa Phillips Opens in new window

Description The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was written in response to the atrocities of World War II. Since its ratification, the UDHR has been a 'roadmap' for peace, forming the basis for international responses to conflicts, poverty and disadvantage. This subject examines and critiques the concept of human rights. It will be shown how differentials of political and economic power between countries and groups within countries are used to prioritise and preference different rights so as to justify selective humanitarian efforts in the initial phases of peace-making and the policy requirements for peace-building in human social, economic and cultural development.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Sociology

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Equivalent Subjects HUMN 1033 - Inequality and Human Rights HUMN 1029 - Human Rights Peace and Development (WSTC)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Explain the concepts and philosophy of human rights, peace and development.
2. Identify and describe the different categories of rights ? civil, political, economic and cultural within the context of peace and development
3. Analyse the impact of human rights to the social conditions of vulnerable persons and groups.
4. Identify and describe the significant debates within the area of human rights as they apply to issues of peace and development.
5. Apply human rights concepts and arguments to analyse and evaluate topical and controversial issues within the areas of peace and development .

Subject Content

1. International Human Rights in an Historical Perspective. Defining Peace and Development.
2. The Philosophical Foundations of Human Rights.
3. Civil and Political Rights.
4. Economic and Social Rights.
5. Cultural and Environmental Rights.
6. The rights of different social groups (with particular focus on gender and indigenous peoples)
7. A Critique of the Concept of Human Rights.
8. Examining the UN implementation of the UDHR during conflicts between countries and within countries.
9. Examining implementation of human rights on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)