Human Rights, Refugee Law & International Humanitarian Law

Unit I — INTRODUCTION

Concept, Origin and Nature of Human Rights · Development of International Human Rights Law: Universal Declaration on Human Rights 1948 (UDHR)-International Covenants on Human Rights-ICCR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)-ICSECR (International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights-Islamic Declaration of Human Rights and Comparison with UDHR · International Covenants and Declarations such as on Racial Discrimination, Torture and Inhuman Treatment, Slavery, Enforced Disappearance-Protection of Vulnerable Groups such as Women, Children, Disabled · Right to Development and Regional Human Rights Instruments and Mechanisms, Universalism v. Cultural Relativism Debate.

• Human Rights: Concept, Definition, Evolution, Characteristics, Need, Limitations, Theories of Development of Natural Rights, Theories of Utilitarianism, Idealism, Socialism and Positivism
• First, Second and Third Generation Human Rights: Their Meaning, Historical
• Universality of Human Rights
• The UN Human Rights System and UDHR
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, First Optional Protocol, Second
• Human Rights Protection of Vulnerable Groups The Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1979
• Regional Arrangements

Unit II — HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA

Human Rights in India: Problem and Focus Areas (Violations, Identities and vulnerabilities) · Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles under the Indian Constitution and Human Rights · Role of Indian Judiciary in the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights

• Human Rights in India, the tradition of Human Rights in Indian context: ancient, medieval and modern
• Indian Constitution and Human Rights: Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
• Role of Judiciary in Protection of Human Rights in India

Unit III — INSTITUTIONS

National Human Rights Commission-National Commission for Women, Minorities Commission and the Commission for Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribes · Human Rights Literacy and Human Rights Education · Role and Responsibilities of the Civil Society, NGOs, Media, Law Students & Legal Profession

• 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

Unit IV — REFUGEE LAW

Refugee Law: Origin, Definition, Development · Rights and Protections for the Refugees, Vulnerable Groups of Refugees including Women, Children and Victims of Torture-The Principle of Non- Refoulement-Durable Solutions · Internally Displaced Persons: Guiding Principles, Protections and Vulnerabilities · Legal Status of Refugees in India

• Human Security –Asylum seekers, Migrants and Refugees, the differences
• Human Rights: LGBT, Refugees and Aliens

Unit V — HUMANITARIAN LAW

International Humanitarian Law: Historical Background and Origins and Classification of IHL · IHL as a part of International Law – Sources of Modern IHL – Development of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols · Protection of Defenceless in War: Distinction between Combatant and Non- Combatant-Limitations on Means and Methods of Use of Force-Law of Internal Armed Conflicts · Issues Relating to Implementation of Humanitarian Law