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Unit of Study JUST2004 - Human Rights (2021)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit description

Examines the principles of human rights from international, Australian, comparative and theoretical perspectives. Discusses the international human rights regime, the method by which human rights are protected and the question of whether Australia should have its own Constitutional or legislative Bill of Rights. Will analyse the common theoretical critiques of human rights and will study some selected human rights issues.

Unit content

Part 1 – Introduction to the international human rights system
Topic 1 The international human rights legal system – an overview
Topic 2 The historical and philosophical foundation of human rights
Topic 3 A hierarchy of rights?
Topic 4 Critiques of human rights

Part 2 – Human rights in Australia
Topic 5 Express and implied constitutional rights and the role of the common law in Australia 
Topic 6 Specific legislative provisions for human rights protection in Australia 
Topic 7 Should Australia have a Charter of Rights?

Part 3 – Specific human rights issues
Topic 8 The right to privacy
Topic 9 The human rights of Indigenous Australians
Topic 10 The human rights of asylum seekers

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online
Session1
Session1

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

recognise the main features of the international human rights legal regime

appraise the express and implied constitutional protection of human rights in Australia, and assess the other forms of protection of human rights in the Australian legal and political system

identify and analyse the arguments for and against whether Australia should have a constitutional or a legislative Bill of Rights

describe and critically assess the common criticisms of human rights by critical legal advocates, feminists and others

give an account of and discuss various topical human rights issues.

demonstrate their skills in legal research, critical analysis and the written presentation of research and argument.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.