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Course Outline IHRL 11 Oct 2022
Course Outline IHRL 11 Oct 2022
SCHOOL OF LAW
GPR 219: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW
SEMINAR OUTLINE: 2022/2023 ACADEMIC SESSION
COURSE CO-ORDINATOR:
A/PROF. EDWIN ABUYA
(Edwina@uonbi.ac.ke)
Can you for a moment imagine a world without rights? How would it be living in such an
environment? Would you take any step to improve the current situation? What measures
would you take? To whom would you appeal? Why? What remedies would you expect the
duty bearer to hand down? Put differently, why should you be accorded any right? Which
right(s) do you consider fundamental? Against whom would you claim this/these right(s)?
What is the extent of this obligation? What remedies would you seek if a duty bearer fails to
discharge its legal obligation, and where? This course seeks to respond to these key questions.
Overall, the course examines the protection of your civil liberties.
Owing to time considerations, this course cannot cover all the human rights, which
are covered by international treaties and domestic legislation. Rather, it will consider a
number of important contemporary issues. In the first seminar we will introduce the concept of
human rights law. We will also consider the origins of human rights. The second seminar will
evaluate issues surrounding the enforcement of human rights. If your clients‘ rights are infringed, in
which forum/fora would you advise them to seek relief? What would be the basis of your reasoning? In
seminar three, we will discuss the concept of Ubuntu—one of the theories for grounding a rights-based
argument. This will be followed by a discussion on whether human rights are the same everywhere,
and at all times. Put in another way, do human rights exist everywhere in the world and does
the concept of human rights mean the same thing to everyone—male and female—the world
over?
The remainder of the course will focus on specific rights. First, we will look at the
right of access to information. Remember the saying: information is power? In this seminar we
will explore the rationale for this right, as well as the procedural framework for enforcing it.
Thereafter, we will focus on the freedom of expression. With the emergence of internet
around the world, does freedom of expression extend to those who are within this space?
What happens when countries shut down internet access? Importantly, in this seminar we will
also discuss the concept of criminal defamation. Using the East African Community as a case
study, the next seminar (7) will review the rights that are due to citizens of this regional block.
Several questions come to mind: Which rights do they have? Where are these located? Who
are the duty bearers? What are their fundamental obligations? In instances of breach, what
remedies are available? Thereafter, we will discuss the rights of those who those who are at
risk of stateless, intersex persons and those who have been incarcerated. We will ask ourselves a
similar set of questions. In the context of prisoners in particular, the fundamental question is
whether this cohort of individuals loose their rights when incarcerated. If not, which right(s)
do they retain? Throughout the discussions in this course gender issues that arise will be
highlighted and addressed. It is also important that you bear in mind the entitlements due to
persons with disabilities.
At the end of this course it is expected that you will be able to appreciate theoretical
perspectives of the rights discourse. I also expect you to apply the principles learnt to
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practical circumstances. Upon successful completion of this course you should also be
conscious of the idea of justice. You should also be able to have a solid grasp of the rights
discourse and the various modes of enforcement. Further this course aims at improving your
research, language, analytical, communication (oral and written) and problem-solving skills.
Through-out the course you will be expected to conduct yourself as a professional.
Regular seminar attendance is mandatory. Missing even one class means that you miss
an entire piece of information. This gap will definitely undermine your overall understanding of
whole areas of issues covered by the syllabus. If you do not meet the attendance requirement,
I am afraid I will not grade your paper. For avoidance of doubt, you must meet the
attendance thresh- hold by the time of the Continuous Assessment Test and final exam.
While seminars will be run online, I reserve the right to call on any student to respond
to any question. In other words, you must prepare for each seminar in advance by reviewing
all the readings in this outline. I suggest you work in teams in order to obtain a wide
understanding of the subject matter. In the real-world teamwork is a vital tool. You will have a
hard time in the seminars, if you fail to read the material in advance. Failure to engage with
the readings will definitely impact your professional life. You are encouraged to draw on
your practical experience, as a way towards enriching discussions. Mind you, we all have
something to share. The materials that are contained in this outline are not exhaustive. Thus, I
expect you to research widely in order to widen your scope of understanding of issues as well
as enrich seminar discussions as well as your future life as a legal advisor.
There will be one Continuous Assessment Test (30 marks) and an end of semester
examination (70 marks). Both will be open book and conducted in keeping with the prevailing
University rules and regulations on examinations. I will grade papers for to those who have
satisfied the University Rules and Regulations. It is in your interest, therefore, to ensure you
enroll for the course at your earliest opportunity. Two, ensure that you comply with all
examination rules. To achieve a pass in this course you must obtain at least 40 marks. Even so, I
strongly recommend that you aim high. You are aware that excellent grades have an impact on
your future. Dates and times of each assessment will be communicated in advance.
An ‗A‘ paper:
Is creative in terms of how it approaches the issue;
Is sufficiently supported by citing to relevant authorities;
Is well written in terms of grammar and punctuation;
Demonstrates evidence of deep research and appreciation of the material;
Identifies the disposable issues and applies them to the fact pattern; and
Has superior analysis.
I operate an open door policy. If you have any question relating to this course or issue that I
need to take on board, send me an email. I endeavour to respond within the shortest time
possible. The links for the seminar are: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvf-
yrpz0pE9bbgfCIdqtV6Zs0IFl-7gTX (day class) and
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqfuqqpjMvE93u5_PdbLafZeWBIJj7MiCi
(evening class). It is in your interest to register as soon as possible.
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Morris Mbondenyi, International Human Rights and their enforcement in Africa (2011) Law Africa
pages 14 – 126.
Marie-Bénédicte Dembour, ‗What Are Human Rights? Four Schools of Thought,‘ (2010)
32(1) Human Rights Quarterly 1.
Anna Grear, ‗‗Framing the project‘ of international human rights law: reflections on
the dysfunctional ‗family‘ of the Universal Declaration‘ in Conor Gearty and Costas
Douzinas (eds), The Cambridge Companion to Human Rights Law (CUP, 2012), 17-35.
Susan Marks, ‗Human Rights and Root Causes,‘ (2011) 74 Modern Law Review 57.
Makau Mutua, ‗Savages, Victims and Saviors: The Metaphor of Human Rights‘, (2001) 42
Harvard International Law Journal 201.
Mark Goodale, ‗The Myth of Universality: The UNESCO ―Philosophers‘ Committee‖ and
the Making of Human Rights,‘ (2018) 43(3) Law & Social Inquiry 596.
Samuel Moyn, ‗The Future of Human Rights‘, (2014) 20 Sur: International Journal on
Human Rights 1.
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Mzamo Mangaliso et al, ‗Contextualizing Organizational Change Management in
Africa: Incorporating the Core Values of Ubuntu‘, (2021) 17 Journal of African Business
1.
Thaddeus Metz, ‗Ubuntu as a Moral Theory: Reply to Four Critics‘, (2007) 26 South
African J of Philosophy 369.
Munyaradzi Mawere, ‗Buried And Forgotten But Not Dead‘: Reflections On ‗Ubuntu‘
In Environmental Conservation In Southeastern Zimbabwe‘, (2012) 3 Afro Asian
Journal of Social Sciences 1.
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Anudo Ochieng Anudo v Tanzania (Judgment) (African Court on Human and Peoples'
Rights, App No. 012/2015, 22 March 2018).
Edwin Abuya, Registration of Persons at Risk of Statelessness in Kenya: Further
Problems or Solutions? in Tendayi Bloom and Lindsey Kinston (eds), Statelessness
and Governance: Rights, Identity and Citizenship (Manchester University Press:
Manchester, 2021) 249-261.
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