Course info

NEU- JIL 303: Human Rights Law                                        (Credit Units: 3; Elective; LH=45)

Overview:

The human rights law course introduces students to the basic rights globally accepted as essential and which protects the dignity of all human beings. These basic rights include the right to life, right to equal treatment before the law, right to privacy, right to freedom of thought, religion, opinion and expression and the right to education.

Objectives:

The objectives of the course are to:

1. explain the nature, scope and meaning of human rights;
2. examine the Philosophical basis of human rights;
3. explain the Historical perspective of human rights;
4. discuss Human rights under the Nigerian Constitution;
5. analyze comparatively, Nigerian human rights laws and international minimum standards;
6. describe the human rights of vulnerable groups;
7. explain the roles of international and domestic NGOs in the protection of human rights; and
8. discuss legal responses to human rights violations.

Learning Outcome:

On completion of the course, students should be able to;

1. state the nature, scope and meaning of human rights;
2. explain the Philosophical basis of human rights;
3. discuss the Historical perspective of human rights;
4. identify seven Human rights under the Nigerian Constitution;
5. analyze comparatively, Nigerian human rights laws and international minimum standards;
6. discuss seven human rights of vulnerable groups;
7. state five roles of international and domestic NGOs in the protection of human rights; and
8. explain five legal responses to human rights violations.

Course Contents:

Human rights – meaning, scope and sources; philosophical basis of human rights – natural law, positivism etc; historical perspective – feudal, colonial, world wars, post-colonial era etc; traditional and contemporary African between the State and the individual; the United Nations and human Rights; human rights under the Nigerian Constitution; compatibility between Nigerian laws and international minimum standards; regional Conventions – emphasis on African Charter; human rights of perspectives on human rights; international and national protection of human rights; elements of international responsibility; the relationship between international law and national law; the proper relationship vulnerable groups – women, children and minorities; role, organization and methods of international and domestic NGOs; impediments to realization of human rights; violations of human rights; legal responses to human rights violations; elements of International Humanitarian Law.