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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

College of Indigenous Peoples (Gnibi)

Unit aim

Introduces students to the protection of human rights under both Australian law and international law from the viewpoint of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Considers the relationship between generic human rights and specific indigenous human rights. Practical and theoretical understandings of how human rights law can be utilised on behalf of Indigenous Australians are addressed.

Unit content

Topic 1 Introduction
Topic 2 International law and human rights
Topic 3 Indigenous peoples and human rights
Topic 4 Rights under the ICCPR
Topic 5 Racial discrimination
Topic 6 Criminal justice system
Topic 7 Self-determination
Topic 8 Land rights
Topic 9 Economic rights
Topic 10 Social rights
Topic 11 Cultural rights
Topic 12 Recognition of customary law

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.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 outline the historical and philosophical bases of human rights
2 explain the relationship between generic human rights and indigenous-specific human rights
3 summarise the principles and practical operation of the international regime for the protection of human rights
4 examine the framework for the protection of human rights under Australian law, and how Australian law and policy have affected the human rights of Australian Indigenous peoples
5 select appropriate complaints procedures under the various state, territory, Commonwealth and international regimes for Indigenous Australians whose human rights may have been infringed
6 indicate how international legal norms such as self-determination and the right to development may be used to benefit indigenous peoples and, in particular, discuss responses to these norms from the various levels of Australian government
7 discuss critical perspectives on human rights, particularly those advanced by indigenous writers.

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

  1. outline the historical and philosophical bases of human rights
    • GA7:
  2. explain the relationship between generic human rights and indigenous-specific human rights
    • GA7:
  3. summarise the principles and practical operation of the international regime for the protection of human rights
    • GA7:
  4. examine the framework for the protection of human rights under Australian law, and how Australian law and policy have affected the human rights of Australian Indigenous peoples
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:
  5. select appropriate complaints procedures under the various state, territory, Commonwealth and international regimes for Indigenous Australians whose human rights may have been infringed
    • GA7:
  6. indicate how international legal norms such as self-determination and the right to development may be used to benefit indigenous peoples and, in particular, discuss responses to these norms from the various levels of Australian government
    • GA7:
  7. discuss critical perspectives on human rights, particularly those advanced by indigenous writers.
    • GA2:
    • GA3:
    • GA7:

Prescribed texts

  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.