Courses

    In the last two centuries, universal human rights have evolved from a utopian philosophical proposal to the dominant ideal of contemporary world politics. Beginning with the U.N. Charter in 1945, an elaborate body of human rights law has emerged. Nevertheless, even today human rights remain utopian for millions, perhaps billions, of people. This course will examine the basics of human rights law: the human rights provisions of the U.N. Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Genocide Convention; the Covenants on civil, political, economic, and social rights; the Torture Convention; and other treaties. We also examine efforts by regional organizations and NGOs to implement human rights, and human rights successes and failures "on the ground." The course will study the U.S. role in human rights, and the post-9/11 tensions between human rights and the campaign against international terrorism.