Al Hussein Technical University

School of Social and Basic Sciences

Scheme of Work (SOW)
Rights and Responsibilities: understanding our rights for a better world.
Fall 2022-2023

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name: Areej Abuqudairi
E-mail Address: areej.abuqudairi@htu.edu.jo
Office: S-324 (New Red building)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course aims to introduce the students to the basic concepts of human rights. Students will
learn about the international instruments and documents outing human rights, engage in
debates about controversies about some human rights issues. Students will learn how to
identify and analyze key human rights issues in their communities and globally. By the end of
the course, the students will have developed a sense of responsibility not only to respect the
rights of others but also to advocate protecting and promoting human rights.

Readings and textbooks

You do not have to buy a textbook for this class. I will post the assigned readings on E-Learning
two weeks in advance. Doing the readings is important for participating in the discussions and
doing well on your tests and assignments. There is a copy on hold at the library for some books
that you might find helpful (see below the references list).

REFERENCES

Claphman, Andrew, Human Rights: a very short introduction, Second Edition, Oxford
University Press, 2015.

Freeman, Michael, Human Rights: Key Concepts, Third Edition, Polity, 2017.

Mandela, Nelson, Long Walk to Freedom: the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, First
Edition, Little and Brown Company, 1994.

Smith, Rhoana, Textbook on International Human Rights, Eighth Edition, Oxford University
Press, 2018.

Yousafzai, Mala, I am Malala, First Edition, Little and Brown Company, 2014.
COURSE ASSESSMENT

Participation 20% This course relies on discussion, so you are expected to

actively participate in the class discussion and group
activities. Quizzes and short assignments, which will count
towards your participation.

Exam 20% This exam will take place during class time. It will cover
Date: 20,21/11/2022 materials covered in class and in the readings.

Report and Presentation 30% You will identify a human rights issue of importance to you,
Due Date: 26,27/12/2022 research and write a report about it. Then present your
findings to your classmates. You will receive more
guidelines in your assignment brief.

Group Project 30% You will work in groups of four on your final project. You will
Due Date: 22/1/2022 receive more guidelines in your assignment brief.

WEEK TOPICS Learning Objectives References

LO1: Understand the basic concepts of human rights as outlined by international
documents on human rights, as well as formal international human rights system.
W1 Introduction to the course  Students to
understand of the Scheme of Work
learning objectives
and assessment
methods.
What are Human Rights?
 Students are
expected to
understand the
characteristics of
human rights
Weeks The International Bill of  Students are
2&3 Human Rights expected to
understand human
The International System of rights as outlined by
protection of Human Rights the Universal
Declaration to
Human Rights
(UDHR) and
international The Universal Declaration
 instruments of Human Rights (UDHR)

 Students are
expected to
understand a brief
history of human The United Nations
rights and the Website (UN)
contemporary
international system.
Rhona Smith, Textbook
on International Human
Rights, Chapters 3, 4 and
5.

LO2: Students identify pressing human rights issues nationally and globally and analyze the
underlying causes.
W4 and W5 - Students to learn  Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Violations about key human and Amnesty
Global and National Overview rights issues in International 2020
the national and report-
global context.
 National Center for
Human Rights Annual
- Students learn Report 2020
how to analyze
these human
rights issues,
understand the
causes, - Case studies will
complexities that be available on E-
lead to the learning for you to
violations. read.

- Students learn
about major
actors involved in
human rights.

W6 Exam

W7 Stereotypes, - Students Claphman, chapter 6.

Discrimination and understand the
human rights violations. relationship
between Case study will be
stereotyping and available on E-learning.
 discrimination.
- Students analyze
the role of media
in perpetuating
stereotypes and
how it leads to
human rights
violations.

LO3: students learn and engage in debate about controversial issues in human
rights.
W8 Women’s Rights: the - Students
case of violence against understand the Guest speaker (TBC)
women issue of violence
against women Case Study on E-
learning
- Understand the
relationship
between socially
constructed
gender roles and
violence against
women.

- Engage in
debates about
cultural traditions
and human rights

W9 Minority Rights: the case - Students learn Fact sheets and Case
of the Damari Gypsies of about the concept study on E-Learning
the middle east of minority rights
and related
treaties.
- Students engage
in the challenges
for integrating
minority groups
while preserving
their right to “self
determination”.

W10 Climate Change and - Students learn Case studies on E-

Human Rights about the effects learning
of climate change
on human rights
- Identify those
 impacted most

W11 Students papers and presentations

LO4: students to develop advocacy skills to defend and promote human rights
in their communities.
W12 Peaceful and non-violent - Students learn Film Screening
movements about peaceful “I am Malala”
and non-violent
methods to Analysis of Martin
defend and Luther King Speech
human rights. “material will be posted
- Students explore on e-learning”
examples from

W13 Advocating for human - Students learn Contemporary

rights the stages of advocacy projects from
advocacy the region (E-learning).
- Students learn to
work in teams to Guest Speaker (TBC)
develop and
implement
advocacy plan.

W14 Group Formatives and I will meet with each group separately to discuss
project workshops your advocacy project on Monday. You will have
Wednesday to work on your project.
W15 Group Presentations and You will submit your group projects and deliver
advocacy project presentations for your classmates.