This course examines the international law of human rights—its origin, sources, content, enforcement, and justifications. It also surveys the legal recognition and protection of human rights within various countries. Part one introduces the idea of rights from the historical, philosophical, and analytical perspectives. Part two, the main part of the course, is devoted to a study of the detailed contents of the international human rights law as found in international treaties, customary international law, and other sources of law. This part explores the substantive doctrine -- the "primary rules of conduct" -- as well as the "procedural" aspects of international human rights and international criminal law such as adjudication and remedies. Part three explores issues relating to selected rights from a comparative (international and other national law) perspective.

Students are expected to participate in classroom discussions of the assigned readings and to make classroom presentations on specific rights or issues. Grades will be based on class participation, the presentations, and a moot court exercise.