Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE INL3011

 
TITLE European Court of Human Rights

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Public Law

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit is meant to familiarise students over a brief course of lectures and discussion sessions with Human Rights Law focusing on the European Court of Human Rights. The study-unit introduces the notion of fundamental Human Rights, the main International Instruments protecting fundamental human rights with particular attention to the Universal declaration of human rights and the European Convention on fundamental human rights and freedoms. The study-unit will also familiarise the student with the incorporation of the said convention in the municipal Law of the various European states; students will be also cover the European Charter of Fundamental rights. Further attention will be given to the remedies available at both International and Municipal level to those who allege that the fundamental rights have been breached. Lastly the lectures will focus on a brief description of the content of each of the fundamental human rights in the Council of Europe Convention.

Study-Unit Aims:

- This study-unit aims to give the student insight into the history and development of Human Rights Law and the important role of individual petition;
- The unit intends to look into the structure of the European Court of Human Rights and the procedure involved in filing a case in the Court;
- The study-unit also aims to explain how the principles of the Court have evolved over time through case law.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this study-unit, the student will:

- Gain an understanding on human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Distinguish between human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Note the limitations and restrictions imposed on such rights and freedoms;
- Appreciate the difference that exists in various human rights and fundamental freedoms legal regimes;
- Know the salient case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Reading List:

- Philip Alston, Ryan Goodman and Henry J. Steiner, International Human Rights In Context: Law, Politics and Morals, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007 (third edition).
- D.J. Harris, M.O’Boyle, E.P. Bates and C.M. Buckley, Harris, O’Boyle & Warbrick Law of the European Convention on Human Rights, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009 (second edition).
- Mark W. Janis, Richard S. Kay and Anthony W. Bradley, European Human Rights Law: Text and Materials, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008 (third edition).
- European Court of Human Rights Database, HUDOC Database, available at http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Case-Law/HUDOC/HUDOC+database/

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Michael Camilleri

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit