Implementation of Human Rights: Strong Normative Aspirations, Weak Enforcement

About

There has been a welcome multiplication of human right treates in the last 60-70 years, at universal as well as regional level. Participation in these treaties is generally high. Most human rights treaties created their own monitoring mechanism establishing judicial or quasi-judicial fora. This development, however, has not been matched by a similar progress in the implementation of treaty obligations. International adjudication in the field of human rights faces various challenges, including the inevitably laconic formulation of human rights in the treaties; the weaknesses of the treaty-monitoring bodies and courts in terms of their composition, permanent or temporary character, independence and impartiality; the remedies available for human rights violations, including the oftentimes inapproriateness of monetary compensation; the principle of subsidiarity and, in relation to that, the use of sovereignty as a shield of escaping obligations; and the supervision of the execution of decisions. The course focuses on the major features of international human rights law with specific emphasis on enforcement, delving into both theory and practice, from a legal, and humanities-based perspective. Through lectures, case studies and interactive working groups, participants will gain an understanding of various elements – and their interplay – involved in international human rights law.

Course leader

Dr Adrienne Komanovic

Fee info