HUMAN RIGHTS - UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

概要

The United Nations Human Rights Council (hereinafter “HRC”) is the main UN organ in charge of the protection and promotion of human rights - one of the three pillars and purposes of the UN. This course, led by a former UN official (who served as Secretary of the HRC until May 2022), is designed to examine the work and functioning of the HRC since its establishment in 2006 replacing its predecessor (UN Commission on Human Rights), including its core mechanisms, such as the Universal Periodic Review and the special procedures. Through assignments, including presentations on specific UN meetings, reports and documents, the course is intended to help students acquire a basic knowledge of not only traditional human rights issues at the national and international levels, but also the human rights implications of other global issues discussed at the UN (e.g. the SDGs; climate change; armed conflicts; terrorism; new and emerging technologies; COVID-19). Through presentations, viewing of short videos and a role play exercise on the process of consideration and voting on resolutions on country situations and controversial themes, the course will also expose students to the reality of intergovernmental and political processes of debates and decision-making, influenced by realpolitik and evolving multilateral and bilateral relations between States and groups of States. Furthermore, it is hoped that the course will contribute to an improved knowledge of UN intergovernmental processes as epitomized by the HRC.

目標

The broad objective of the course is for the students to acquire a solid knowledge of the work and functioning of the United Nations in the field of human rights with a focus on the Human Right Council (“HRC”) and its key mechanisms, such as the Universal Periodic Review and the special procedures. It is envisaged that by the end of the course the students will: (a) have learned how the HRC operates concretely, including its political dynamics that shapes debates and decision-making and how it has been responding to human rights and humanitarian crises in the world since its establishment in 2006; (b) be able to make a preliminary assessment of a human rights situation in a specific country or a global human rights issue, and to prepare, discuss and vote on a draft resolution on a specific theme, through assignments, presentations and a role play exercise; (c) be able to form and present their own opinions on the effectiveness of the HRC and the challenges facing the HRC. In addition, it is hoped that this course will provide students with an incentive to consider a possible career at the UN, other intergovernmental organizations, and multilateral diplomacy in general.

授業外の学習

Students will be required to spend at least 190 minutes a week for reading and drafting assignments in order to be prepared for upcoming classes. Occasionally, students will be asked to prepare a summary of specific United Nations documents/reports with a view to making a presentation thereon and lead a discussion. Students will also need to conduct research and watch archived videos of official meetings of the UN Human Rights Council and its Universal Periodic Review in order to make a presentation and participate in discussions and prepare themselves for a role play exercise representing a specific UN Member State of the HRC.

所要時間: At least 190 minutes