HMRT 2003: Introduction to Human Rights

Michael Comeau
mcomeau@stu.ca

This course examines the claim that since the end of the Second World War we have witnessed an international “rights revolution” defined by the achievement of legal and political reforms that transformed human rights from moral to legal entitlements. The course will trace the history of the idea of human rights, examine the basic elements of the modern idea of human rights, and then assess the major international and Canadian developments in the rights revolution.

Course Modules 

1. The history of the idea of human rights
2. The modern idea of human rights: inherent, inalienable, universal, and indivisible
3. Critiques of the modern idea of human rights
4. International human rights law
5. International humanitarian law and international criminal law, and their relation to human rights
6. Canadian human rights law

Deadlines

The instructor will not extend deadlines.  Any student who suffers a serious medical problem or another personal crisis that prevents the submission of an assignment on time should request that the instructor approve completion of an alternate assignment, on compassionate grounds. 

Course Materials

Each student must pay a photocopying fee to the Registrar’s/Business Office for course materials.

Contact with the instructor

The instructor has a mail box in room Holy Cross House 206. The instructor will reply promptly to all email sent to mcomeau@stu.ca.

The instructor is available to meet by appointment. Arrangements to meet can be made with the instructor before/after class or via email.

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Guidelines for Students / International human rights treaties / Useful Links / Michael Comeau

Human Rights / Faculty / STU Homepage