Human Rights

Objectives

1. Promote the analysis and study of the conventional sources of International Law of Human Rights.

2. Highlight the meaning and clarify the content of human rights in the contemporary world, in order to develop student competencies in interpreting, analysing and critiquing texts and documents.

3. Promote analytical and critical reflection on issues involving the protection and guarantee of human rights in the contemporary world.

4. Understand the contemporary discussions about Human Rights.

Program

The human dignity as a fundamental value. The generations of rights: main concepts, theoretical and historical contexts. Debates and contemporary perspectives on human rights. The Public International Law and the International Law of Human Rights. The International Humanitarian Law. Meaning and relevance of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The protection of Human Rights in the international law. The regional systems of international protection of human rights. The example in Europe. The American system. The African system. The current situation in Asia. The Arab League of States and the human rights. Religion and human rights. The role of civil society in defence of Human Rights: the Non-Governmental Organisations; the media; social networks and social interventions. Human rights, democracy and globalisation.

Teaching Methodologies

Combination of methodologies: lectures and interaction with the students. The lectures will be illustrated by means of analysing texts and documents to which students will have access. The interactive component considers in-class participation and the completion of a research project.

Bibliography

BALLESTEROS, J., Derechos Humanos (Concepto, Fundamentos, Sujetos), Madrid, Tecnos, 1992.

BELL, D, East Meets West: Human Rights and Democracy in East Asia, New Jersey, Princeton Univ. Press, 2000.

BOBBIO, N, The Age of Rights, Cambridge, Blackwell, 1996.

BRYSK, A (Ed.), Globalization and Human Rights, Berkeley, Univ. of California Press, 2002.

CUNHA, P F. da (Org.), Direitos Humanos. Teorias e Práticas, Coimbra, Almedina, 2003.

HAARSCHER, G, Filosofia dos Direitos do Homem, Lisboa, Instituto Piaget, 1997.

HAYDEN, P, The Philosophy of Human Rights, St. Paul, Paragon House, 2001.

HEGARTHY, Â e LEONARD, S, Direitos do Homem. Uma agenda para o século XXI, Lisboa, Instituto Piaget, 2003.

ISHAY, M (Ed.), The Human Rights Reader, New York, Routledge, 1997.

MARINA, J A e VÁLGOMA, María de la, A Luta pela Dignidade. Teoria da Felicidade Política, Lisboa, Fim de Século, 2005.

MARTINS, A M G, Direito Internacional dos Direitos Humanos, Coimbra, Almedina, 2006.