Ten week Monday evening course - CPD accredited
Next running: October 2012. Registration from: June 2012
In today's legal, policy and business worlds, international human rights law affects the way all of us work, either explicitly or implicitly. A knowledge of international human rights standards is increasingly required. Therefore those involved in the legal professions - whether as barristers, solicitors, employed lawyers or judges - and those involved in government, public policy and business, need to have a solid understanding of the breadth and depth of human rights principles. So too do increasing numbers of those involved in NGOs and in civil society work generally.
International human rights law is a subject that barely featured on university curricula just a few years ago, and it remains hard to find guidance on the subject that is easily accessible, clear, authoritative and up-to-date. No other course in the UK offers the range of expertise and depth of understanding of human rights law that will be available on this programme. The course will provide an indispensable guide to this burgeoning field of law. A certificate of attendance from the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at LSE will be awarded to those who have successfully completed the course.
What past participants say
"It has been an excellent course which will stand me in very good stead for developing further my organisation's policy and advocacy work."
"I have a Masters in human rights and felt this course offered an in-depth overview of the key rights topics and gave me the legal focus that I was seeking"
"The course provided an up to date and sophisticated picture of the political context - a crucial part of the law of human rights that other courses don't cover"
Course components
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The history and philosophy of human rights and the relationship between human rights and a democratic society
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The international institutional framework for promoting and protecting human rights and how human rights work
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Regional mechanisms for protecting and promoting human rights
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Economic, social and cultural rights and how they are enforced
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Civil and political rights and how they are enforced
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Human rights as democratic values: participatory rights in practice
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Equality and minority rights: the enforcement of protection from discrimination
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People's rights: indigenous people, the right to self-determination and third generation rights
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International criminal law: combating impunity
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Rights in the private sphere: non-state actors, paramilitary organisations, regulating business and other private relationships
Why take this course?
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Delivers a comprehensive understanding of internationally recognised human rights instruments and standards
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Explains how human rights standards work and shows how they can be applied in practice
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Offers access to leading human rights practitioners and academics
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Provides a coherent account of international human rights institutions
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Shows the relevance of international human rights law to domestic law
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Identifies how human rights standards influence the development of law and policy
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Improves critical awareness of key issues in contemporary human rights
Teachers
This course will be taught by a team of leading barristers and distinguished academic experts. in 2011 these were:
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Dr Chaloka Beyani, Senior Lecturer in Law at LSE and UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.
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Iain Byrne, Senior Lawyer for Economic and Social Rights at Interights and Fellowat Essex University's Human Rights Centre.
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Professor Christine Chinkin FBA, Professor of International Law at LSE, and a member of Matrix Chambers.
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Professor Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute of International Studies Institute and former Representative of Amnesty International to the United Nations in New York.
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Jo Cooper, Higher Court advocate with experience of a full range of criminal, terrorism, and war crimes (ICTY) cases. Head of Perren Buildings and chair of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates.
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Jane Gordon, Human rights barrister, LSE Visiting Fellow and Senior lawyer at the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre
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Richard Hermer QC, leading practictioner in human rights, public international law, actions against the police and personal injury. Member of Doughty Street Chambers.
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Professor Francesca Klug OBE, director of the Human Rights Futures Programme at LSE.
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Professor Philip Leach, Professor of Human Rights, a solicitor, and Director of the Human Rights and Social Justice Research Institute, and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (both based at
London Metropolitan University).
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Professor Aileen McColgan, Professor of Human Rights Law at Kings College London, member of Matrix Chambers and the British expert on the EU Commission's network of gender equality legal experts.
The course is convened, and each session chaired, by Madeleine Colvin. Madeleine is a human rights lawyer who worked for several human rights organisations including Liberty and JUSTICE. She is the author of publications on surveillance and privacy. She is currently a human rights consultant and a part-time Immigration Judge. She is an Associate Tenant at Doughty Street Chambers, a member of the Ethics Group for the national DNA database, and a practising mediator focusing on equality issues. She has also convened the Centre's short courses on Understanding Women's Human Rights and Understanding Children's Human Rights.
Fees and administration
The standard course fee is £1,970.
The Centre is able to offer up to five subsidised places, at £985, in support of those who would otherwise be unable to take the course.
Subsidised places will be awarded on the basis of merit and financial need. Priority will be given to those working in non-governmental or voluntary sector organisations who are able to demonstrate a clear benefit to that organisation beyond their personal education and professional development. Please note that if your application is not successful you will not be guaranteed a full-price place on the course.
Discounts for group bookings may also be possible, please contact the Centre to discuss.
The Centre is regrettably not able to provide any additional assistance, financial or practical, in the securing of travel to, or accommodation in, London.
Frequently asked questions about the course|