Prerequisite: By permission of instructor. The permission is just to verify the prerequisite.  Students who have taken either the 1L or upper-level International Human Rights introductory course at HLS will definitely receive permission to enroll, but for technical reasons they should contact the instructor so that he can facilitate registration; other students who have not taken that course but believe that they have preparation equivalent to that course may contact the instructor, who will grant permission if he agrees that their prior preparation is equivalent. Auditing will not be permitted.

Exam Type: No Exam

Grading will be based on class participation and a series of short reaction papers.

This advanced seminar was designed as a capstone experience in human rights.  It will focus on selected topics relating to the work of the UN human rights treaty bodies, especially the Human Rights Committee (of which the instructor was previously a member), often in comparative perspective. Topics vary from year to year, but may include such subjects as arbitrary detention, religious exemptions, the right to life, forced evictions, “hate speech,” rights of persons with disabilities, rights of refugees, and international monitoring procedures.

Note: The seminar will meet six times each semester, in two-hour sessions. The fall meeting dates are as follows: September 9, September 23, October 7, October 21, November 4, and November 18.

Credits: The credit breakdown for this seminar is as follows: two total credits with one credit awarded in the fall and one credit awarded in the spring.