Students
LAWS2060 – The Politics of Human Rights Law
2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kate Gleeson
Contact via Ilearn
Room 615 6 First Walk.
see Ilearn
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
60cp at 1000 level or above including LAWS1010 or LEX101 or LEX102 or LAWS1000 or LAW115
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
Human rights are not simply a legal construct. They reflect powerful social and political movements that have transformed our political imagination since the mid 20th century. This unit explores human rights law with a view to analysing the diverse international and domestic political influences that have shaped its evolution and patterns of implementation. Students will examine changing political influences on a range of domestic and international human rights instruments and the roles they have played in anti-colonial, self-determination, civil rights and other liberation movements, as well as their place in supporting state authority. Particular attention will be paid to studying the power of geopolitical regions and the changing capacity of different national groups, countries and regimes to shape human rights law over time. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Explain and reflect on contemporary political debates about human rights values and rights-based discourses and how they are represented in law.
- ULO2: Explain and reflect on some major international and domestic political issues that have occurred in recent history and the role that human rights plays within these issues.
- ULO3: Apply international and domestic law to policy formation in the area of human rights.
- ULO4: Communicate your understanding of the subject verbally and in clearly written, well reasoned and well structured arguments.
- ULO5: Conduct interdisciplinary research in law and international relations and appreciate the role played by these disciplines in influencing legal processes and policy-making forums.
General Assessment Information
Late Submission Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz | 20% | No | 11/3, 1/4, 6/5, 27/5. |
| Research Essay | 40% | No | 23/04/21 |
| Take home exam. | 40% | No | 3/6/21 - 4/6/21 |
Quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: 11/3, 1/4, 6/5, 27/5.
Weighting: 20%
Regular quizzes based on the unit content.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain and reflect on contemporary political debates about human rights values and rights-based discourses and how they are represented in law.
- Explain and reflect on some major international and domestic political issues that have occurred in recent history and the role that human rights plays within these issues.
- Apply international and domestic law to policy formation in the area of human rights.
Research Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 23/04/21
Weighting: 40%
Research Essay
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain and reflect on contemporary political debates about human rights values and rights-based discourses and how they are represented in law.
- Explain and reflect on some major international and domestic political issues that have occurred in recent history and the role that human rights plays within these issues.
- Apply international and domestic law to policy formation in the area of human rights.
- Communicate your understanding of the subject verbally and in clearly written, well reasoned and well structured arguments.
- Conduct interdisciplinary research in law and international relations and appreciate the role played by these disciplines in influencing legal processes and policy-making forums.
Take home exam.
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 3/6/21 - 4/6/21
Weighting: 40%
Open book take-home exam of short questions covering topics discussed in the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Explain and reflect on contemporary political debates about human rights values and rights-based discourses and how they are represented in law.
- Explain and reflect on some major international and domestic political issues that have occurred in recent history and the role that human rights plays within these issues.
- Apply international and domestic law to policy formation in the area of human rights.
- Communicate your understanding of the subject verbally and in clearly written, well reasoned and well structured arguments.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
This unit requires students to attend or listen online (through Echo360) a weekly one-hour lecture. Students are also expected to attend a one-hour tutorial each week. There is no required textbook. Weekly readings are available through Leganto (link available via the iLearn site).
Before attending (or listening to) the weekly live lecture, students are required to access the unit's iLearn page to review online content such as videos (of approximately one hour) and read the assigned readings.
Before you attend the first lecture on 23 February 2021, you should have logged onto iLearn and viewed the assigned weekly online content of approximately an hour, and read the assigned weekly reading.
Unit Schedule
Schedule is on Ilearn.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook