Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Humanitarian law is increasingly a part of human rights law applicable in armed conflicts situation, and the convergence of both the laws has been made consistently by the world community with the great significance and values. In this course, the evolution of international humanitarian law and its efficacies, especially for protection of human rights of individuals in the armed conflict situation inter alia the role and functions of humanitarian agencies are discussed in detail. As such, the national humanitarian rules and agencies along with their role and functions have also been cited comprehensively so as to understand the importance of human rights and humanitarian rules, especially for safeguarding the basic rights and freedoms of individuals in the conflict situation.

COURSE LAYOUT

Week 1 : 1 U.N. Human Rights under the UN Charter : 2 U.N. General Assembly : 3 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) : 4 U.N. Human Rights Commission : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 2 : 1 U.N. Human Rights Council : 2 U.N. Trusteeship Council : 3 U.N. Special Rapporteurs : 4 Universal Periodic Review : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 3 : 1 UDHR : 2 Significance of UDHR : 3 Background for adopting ICCPR : 4 Contents of ICCPR : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 4 : 1 Implementation mechanism and procedure under ICCPR : 2 Significance of reporting procedure under ICCPR : 3 Background for adopting the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR : 4 Contents of ICESCR : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 5 : 1 Implementation mechanisms and procedure under ICESCR : 2 Significance of reporting procedure under ICESCR : 3 Convention on prevention and punishment of crimes and genocide,1951 : 4 International conventions on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, 1969 : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 6 : 1 Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979 : 2 Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 : 3 Historical background of evolution of International Humanitarian Law (Temporary Tribunal, ICTY, ICTR, Rome Treaty, ICC) : 4 Customary International Humanitarian Law : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 7 : 1 Adoption of old Geneva Conventions on International Humanitarian Law (1864) : 2 Adoption of Hague Convention on International Humanitarian Law (1899 &1907) : 3 Adoption of UN Convention on International Humanitarian Law : 4 Adoption of Geneva protocols on International Humanitarian Law (1977) : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 8 : 1 Protection of Sick and wounded Soldier during war and armed conflict : 2 Protection of unarmed civilian and their objects : 3 Prohibition of use of weapons and methods of warfare : 4 Protection of prisoners of war and civilians under custody. : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 9 : 1 Role of Humanitarian agencies under International Humanitarian Law (ICRC) : 2 Background for enactment of Geneva Convention Act, 1960 : 3 Basic principles of Act of 1960 : 4 Evaluation of the activities of the National Red Cross Society and other national humanitarian agencies. : 5 Interaction/Discussion
Week 10 : 1 Meaning and definition of displaced persons and their legal status : 2 Issues of displaced persons and their protection under International and National Law. : 3 Refugee problems and UN : 4 Role of the UNHCR for protection of refugee : 5 Interaction/Discussion