Human Rights Law
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya · LL.B. Semester 8 · LAIHTT2N
Unit I — Concept and Development of Human Rights
Definition, nature, and characteristics of human rights · Philosophical foundations: Natural Law, Liberalism, Marxism, Social Justice · Historical development: From Magna Carta to the modern human rights movement · Human Rights in India: Historical development and traditions in the ancient, medieval, and modern Indian context · Classification of human rights: Civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and collective rights
- Human Rights: Concept, Definition, Evolution, Characteristics, Need, Limitations, Theories of Development of Natural Rights, Theories of Utilitarianism, Idealism, Socialism and Positivism
- Human Rights in India, the tradition of Human Rights in Indian context: ancient, medieval and modern
- First, Second and Third Generation Human Rights: Their Meaning, Historical
- Universality of Human Rights
- Human Rights in Western tradition, Normative Foundation of International Human Rights
- The American Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights & the French
Unit II — International Human Rights Framework
Establishment of United Nation and Preamble of UN Charter · Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Nature and Significance · International Covenant and Optional Protocol on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966 · International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 1966 · The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. · Enforcement mechanisms under the UN system: UNHRC, OHCHR, Treaty Bodies (Monitoring Committees), Special Procedure of HRC, Universal Periodic Review, ICC
Unit III — Regional Protection of Human Rights
European system: ECHR and European Court of Human Rights · Inter-American system: American Convention and Inter-American Court · African system: African Charter and African Commission
Unit IV — Human Rights of Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups
The Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1979 · The Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC), · The Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), 2008 · International Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, 2020
Unit V — Human Rights in the Indian Legal System
Rights Mentioned in the Indian Constitution · Application of International Human Rights Law in India · Role of Judiciary in enforcing the Human Rights in India and Judicial Activism · Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 · Role of NHRC, SHRC, NCW, NCM, SC/ST Commission in promoting the Human Rights in India · Role of civil society and media
- Indian Constitution and Human Rights: Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
- The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993
- National Commission for Women: Constitution, Role and Responsibilities
- National Commission for Minorities: Constitution, Role and Responsibilities
- National Commission for Scheduled Castes: Constitution, Role and Responsibilities
- National Commission for Scheduled Tribes: Constitution, Role and Responsibilities
- Role of Judiciary in Protection of Human Rights in India
Unit VI — Emerging Trends and Contemporary Challenges
Human rights and national security: Preventive detention, AFSPA, and counter-terror laws · Custodial violence, police reforms, and prison conditions · Climate justice and environmental rights · Digital rights, surveillance, data privacy, and AI ethics