| CODE | DST5104 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | International Law | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Diplomatic Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The aim of this study-unit is to familiarize the student with the general principles of public inter-national law. Particular attention is paid to the sources and the subjects of international law. While the emphasis of the 1st semester rests on general principles, the purpose of the 2nd semester is to acquaint the student with some specific topics in international law. The selected topics focus on three main areas: the law of the sea, the humanitarian dimension of international law and diplomatic law. Study-unit Aims - to familiarise the students with the basic principles of international law; - to explore the sources of international law, in particular customary international law and treaty law; - to examine the subjects of international law, in particular the growing role of the individual in international law; - to assess the role and impact of regional human rights institutions in developing principles of international law; - to introduce the basic tenets of diplomatic privileges and immunities according to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; - to familiarise students with the most important principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III); - to introduce the basic principles of international humanitarian law. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - demonstrate an understanding on how international law is created and functions; - comprehend the role of the different subjects of international law; - have a sound knowledge of the principles governing some of the branches of international law (namely, human rights law; international humanitarian law; diplomatic law and law of the sea). 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - comprehend and interpret international legal texts; - perform basic legal tasks in an international law environment; - brief superiors/juniors on the basic principles of international law. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings Main texts: All main texts are available at MEDAC Library Brownlie, I. “Basic Documents in International Law”, Oxford, 2003 (5th Ed.). Brownlie, I. “Principles of Public International Law”, Clarendon Press, 2003 (5th Ed.). Fleck, D. “The Handbook of Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts”, Oxford U. Press, 1995. Harris, D.J. “Cases and Materials on International Law”, Sweet and Maxwell, 2004 (6th Ed.). Lowe, A.V. & R. Churchill, “The Law of the Sea”, Manchester Univ. Press, 1999. Supplementary readings: Malanczuk, P. “Akehurst's Modern Introduction to International Law”, Routledge, 1997(7th Ed.). Regan, C. (ed), 80:20 Development in an Unequal World, 80:20, Ireland, (5th Ed.), 2006 Robertson, G., “Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice”, (3rd Ed.) 2006, Penguin Shaw, M. “International Law”, Cambridge University Press, 2003 (5th Ed). Steiner, H.J. & Ph. Alston. “International Human Rights in Context”, Oxford U. Press,1995. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | David J. Attard Felicity Attard Simone Borg Omar Grech Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici Lourdes Pullicino Colm Regan Patricia Vella de Fremeaux |
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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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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