The aim of this course is to familiarize students with various approaches towards the concept of human rights. In the end, students should be able to think independently and critically about human rights, their universal protection and responsibilities of various actors in this field. The course is divided in three parts. In the first part we will discuss the concept of human rights, including state responsibilities and international responsibility to protect. The theoretically oriented section will introduce different approaches within the liberal as well as critical thinking. The second part will proceed to the international human rights law and the major players, their functions and responsibilities. The final part of the course will focus on the controversial questions, such as whether human rights are/should be universal, how they operate in non-western cultures or what are the enforcement mechanisms and whether they are effective or legitimate.
- Učitel: Šárka Kolmašová