International Human Rights Syllabus

Donna E. Arzt
Syracuse University College of Law

Unless otherwise indicated, page references are to Steiner and Alston, International Human Rights in Context: Law, Politics, Morals (Clarendon Press, 1996). In addition to the listed pages, some assignments also ask you to read a treaty from the book's Annex, which begins on page 1147. Other occasional readings will be available on-line or from Lexis or Westlaw.

We will normally complete a new assignment each class. There will be 27 classes during the semester; some may be rescheduled from the regular Monday or Wednesday class time. Assignment number one is for Wednesday, January 20, 1998.

PART I. INTRODUCTION

1 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS Preface, pages 3-21, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Please also complete and submit the Student Questionnaire.

PART II. CONCEPTS AND CONFLICTS

3 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS - Pages 256-286 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

4 CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND RIGHTS - Pages 192-240 and 287-289.

5 HUMAN RIGHTS, DUTIES AND DEVELOPMENT - Pages 290-298, 311-316, 689-698, 1110-1146 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

6 GENDER AND RIGHTS: THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE DISTINCTION - Pages 886-902, 931-961 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

7 EVERYTHING YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT INTERNATIONAL LAW AND WERE AFRAID YOU'D BE ASKED - 24-58, 145-165, 364-374, and the Annex's excerpts from the UN Charter and the Vienna Convention. This outline of concepts (pdf) will help you follow the professor's lecture.

8 THE UNITED STATES AND RIGHTS - Pages 742-779, the US Constitution, and DeShaney v. Winnebago County Department of Social Services, 489 U.S. 189 (1989) [download from Lexis or Westlaw, or read the Findlaw version].

8a MINORITIES & SELF-DETERMINATION - Pages 971-1020.

PART III. INSTITUTIONS AND ENFORCEMENT

9 THE UNITED NATIONS - PART ONE - Pages 347-363, 374-401 and 448-455. Optional reading: pages 402 to 420.

10 THE UNITED NATIONS - PART TWO - Pages 316-322, 500-521, 545-556, 739-741, the Optional Protocol to the Int'l Covenant, and review articles 28 to 51 of the Int'l Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

11 THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM - Pages 571-583, 598-622, 730-734 and the European Convention on Human Rights.

12 THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM - Pages 563-570, 640-658, and the American Convention on Human Rights.

13 CONSTITUTIONALISM (NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION) - Pages 298-310, 709-725, and from the World Constitutions website, read the following portions of the following Constitution(s) to which you are assigned: -- Canada, sections 1 to 34 (of the 1982 Constitution Act); -- China, articles 33 to 56; or -- South Africa, sections 7 to 39.

14 JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES - Pages 779-810.

15 U.S. LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE ACTION - Pages 818-861.

16 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS - Pages 456 to 499. And surf the course hot-links to learn more about Amnesty International and other NGOs.

17 CRIMINAL JUSTICE VERSUS RECONCILIATION - Pages 99-112, and 1040-1109.

PART IV. STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

18-26 During this part of the course, two or three students will present their research during each class meeting. They may assign reading in advance, prepare handouts or transparencies, and/or run discussion sessions or role-plays. They are NOT to lecture for the entire portion of their presentation.

PART V. CONCLUSION

27 CONCLUSION: UNIVERSALISM, CAPITALISM AND DEMOCRACY - Pages 113-116, 128-130, 658-676 and 1140-1146.