COURSE DESCRIPTION

It is designed to engage students in an examination of the major contemporary challenges to peace, sources of conflict and violence, and several key nonviolent mechanisms for conflict transformation and prevention. The course provides a common foundation for UPEACE students from all of the different M.A. programs (as its name suggests). During the course, an understanding of the complex and interconnected challenges to peace will be developed, as will an understanding of the need for multi-faceted approaches to meeting these challenges. Students will also engage critically with theories of conflict, and will develop their understanding of the theoretical resources available in the area of conflict studies. During the course of their studies at UPEACE students will engage in increasingly specialized inquiry into various dimensions and issues in their specific MA areas. The foundation course provides an opportunity to explore connections, sympathies, and synergies between the challenges and approaches identified in all of these areas from a “wide-angle” perspective that will encourage students to continue making such interdisciplinary connections and analyses throughout their tenure at UPEACE and after. An important aspect of the course will also be the introduction to skills integral to the field of peace and conflict studies and to the UPEACE pedagogy at large. These include non-violent communication, appreciative enquiry and dialogue.

The Seminar can be developing in two different paths:

Option 1
Research seminars
Binder with annotated reading list (three academic articles on relevant subject for preparation of lecture), a minimum of two reflection questions on the basis of preparatory research (potentially to be asked during lecture) as well as short reflection on content and quality as well as formulation of a minimum of one relevant future research questions following up on each of the 5 lectures afterwards. The total length of the binder should be about 10 A4 pages. Under the direct supervision of the supervisor professor.

Option 2
Departmental Internship
The students that would want to work on the Human Right Council Project HRCP. They must develop the project with the different components, from institutional, fund raising and legal research, maintain and up-to-date online repository of case law as well as nice site that bundles relevant actors and also to develop a strategy for the Project.
 

This course offers a general overview of the topic of public international law. It provides students with a general introduction that will focus on laying a firm foundation of knowledge of the most important doctrines and topics. In 15 classes it will provide students with a solid grasp of the vocabulary of international law, with a sense of the context in which international law originates and operates, with an understanding of the legal and political institutions that play a role in international law, and finally, with the broad range of issues that are dealt with using international legal tools. The course will run concurrently with the course on Research Methods and Writing in Law. In this way, students from diverse background can familiarize themselves with the skills that are required in the context of international legal activities.

This course is designed to build a foundation in research and writing in law. The course will develop the students’ necessary competencies for the required course: Independent Studies Paper (DIL-7100). The course will give the students an introduction to legal research methods and writing. Methods of research, source location and referencing techniques will be examined in relation to students selected research topics. Approaches to case reading and briefing will also be presented in addition to developing students’ legal research skills. Developing writing skills will be a major aspect of the course, which will culminate in writing a short research proposal.

This course will focus on the role of the United Nations and other international organizations in contemporary world politics. We will examine both the institutional and political issues that have arisen within these organizations from theoretical and practical perspectives. Classes will operate through a combination of lecture and discussion. Each class will begin with a one and a half hour presentation by the instructor, followed by a half-hour break and a two-hour class discussion. The lectures will offer basic information and analysis of the day’s topic and the discussions will explore the debates, controversies, and areas of consensus that have been raised in both the academic literature and diplomatic and public policy communities. Each day’s discussion will be guided by a set of questions posed by the instructors, as well as the arguments raised in the assigned readings and lectures.

As a general introduction to human rights, this course seeks to define the achievements, limits and possibilities of human rights. The course starts from the position that to understand contemporary human rights practices and discourses, one has to have a good grounding in the philosophical, political and legal concepts of the nature of international human rights. This grounding includes a comprehension of the relationship between human rights and justice at both national and international levels. From these considerations, we turn to the issue of the relationship between human rights and international law, and the central role that rights play in the UN system. Our focus then takes in economic, social and cultural rights against the background of the ‘generations’ of human rights- and the need for a holistic approach to the various forms that human rights take.

This course provides an overview of the field of the law of armed conflict and laws of war, using the traditional division between Ius in bello and ius ad bellum. It deals inter alia with its origins, purpose, sources and principles, development and its application and effects on armed conflicts. The course reviews the prohibition of the use of force and the exception on the international contemporary law.  It also looks into the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its mandate in the Geneva Conventions and discusses the challenges in applying and enforcing international humanitarian law to contemporary conflicts.

In addition participants can choose an elective course (3 credits) offered by the UPEACE Institute or other UPEACE programmes.

For UPEACE students, the Institute offers the elective courses that have to take as part of their corresponding plan of studies at UPEACE. During these courses, UPEACE students can share learning experiences with students of all UPEACE MA programmes and non-UPEACE students as well.

The course seeks to provide students with theoretical and practical understanding of the Global Human Rights System, to enable them to make a good use of the United Nations mechanisms for the protection of human rights. The program commences with a general introduction to the International Human Rights Law. Then it proposes the study of the UN mechanisms for the protection of human rights that are presented in two Parts along with their conventional or extra-conventional origin.
 

Experiential learning helps students develop creative strategies for the practical application of their education. It provides students with the opportunity to bring focus and meaning to their experience. Academic internships provide unparalleled experiences for students to take the knowledge and critical thinking skills they are learning in the classroom and apply them in a professional setting. In addition, it provides an excellent opportunity for the student to create a social network with eventual colleagues in their respective areas of interest or profession.

The aim of this course is to provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding, and realities of the Inter-American system for the protection and promotion of human rights. The course commences with a general introduction to the regional system for the protection of human rights within the structure of the Organization of American States. The course then turns to some specific standards regarding rights enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights and other instruments. We will analyze the case-law of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (IACmHR) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR). Furthermore, the course intends to introduce the discussion of the role and the approach of the Inter-American system to transitional justice issues and conflict situations. The course will end with selected issues of relevance under the system and a discussion of the challenges faced by it.

The aim of the course is to provide a detailed examination of the structures in the African regional systems for the promotion and protection of human rights. We will consider the role of the Organization of African Unity/African Union and African Regional Economic Communities (REC) and focus in particular on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the work of its Commission and the work of the judicial institutions of RECs on human rights issues. 

Asia is the largest and arguably the most diverse region in terms of cultural and political traditions. It is also the only region that does not have a regional human rights system in place. The purpose of the course is to examine the evolution towards and challenges for the establishment of a regional (or sub-regional) mechanism for human rights protection in Asia.

The course seeks to provide the students with analytical tools to grapple with and to discuss the most salient issues decision-makers are facing in the context of transitional democracies and other situations of dealing with the past. By the end of the course, students should be able to understand these issues, to have a good grip on their conceptual and societal implications, and to know the relevant normative legal framework. Moreover, they should be able to analyze and assess specific transitional policies and measures in the light of a multitude of constraints.

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of the intersections between gender and human rights law. We commence with an examination of what we mean by “gender”: We unpack the various elements of gender as a foundation for identifying those gender issues that have a human rights dimension.

The 21st century is described as the age of globalization, a phenomenon which is increasingly affecting human beings in every aspect of their lives. While globalization has undoubtedly resulted in significant economic and social integration at the global level, the pace at which it is occurring has also brought with it several unintended consequences for the respect and promotion of human rights at other levels. The principal institutions facilitating this phenomenon such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization, have often been accused of keeping human rights issues out of their respective domains. The critical challenge, therefore, facing the present world order lies in ensuring that the vehicles of globalization are oriented towards development and promotion of human rights, through appropriate laws and policies. This course will introduce students to the major themes and debates concerning these different linkages between globalization and human rights and explore the new streams of critique that have enabled a confluence as well as a questioning of the globalization-human rights interface.
 

The overall aim of this course is to provide students with knowledge of a wide range of human rights advocacy strategies. This course builds upon student’s academic knowledge of international human rights law and provides an insight into the practical work of human rights defenders and defenders’ organizations.

At their core, the fields of health and human rights have a similar objective, namely to advance the well-being of individual and populations.  This course will be taught in two sections, each by a different professor.  The first section provides an overview of the field of public health and public health research and serves as the foundation for the second section of the course. 

The course will provide students with an introduction to the world of human rights and indigenous peoples.  The instruction will cover the cultural, historical and legal struggle of indigenous peoples to maintain themselves as distinct peoples and to gain respect and recognition from dominant, market-based systems of today’s world.  The course will delve into the “just war” that has been performed against indigenous peoples in order to advance a Western approach to “civilized society” and morality.  Instructions and readings will cover the growth of contemporary international law and the failure to address the human rights of indigenous peoples until very recently. The role of globalization and transnational corporate activities will be discussed as well as the clashes caused by the modern economic society and the traditional indigenous society.  Students will also learn about differing international norms and mechanisms available to assist in promoting and protecting indigenous rights. 

The Independent Studies Paper (ISP) is pursued with concentration in the second semester, under the supervision of an advisor either in residence at the University or as otherwise determined by the Department. The Department Faculty will coordinate the process of mentoring the students’ research and writing, to assist students in producing a work of quality and insight. Although Faculty will be involved at each stage of preparation of the paper, it is stressed that students are expected to work on their own.

The objective of this course is to critically analyze and discuss contemporary issues in international law, including the challenges thereto. The course will take place entirely online and involves a strong online research component. The focus is intended to be on learning and exchange of information and ideas pertaining to international law through online discussions with other students and the instructor.

Dr. Abdalla is Professor and Vice Rector at the United Nations-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE).  Before arriving at UPEACE, he was a Senior Fellow with the Peace Operations Policy Program, School of Public Policy, at George Mason University, in Virginian, USA.   He was also a Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences in Leesburg, Virginia.
 
Both his academic and professional careers are multi-disciplinary.  He obtained a law degree in Egypt in 1977 where He practiced law as a prosecuting attorney from 1978 to 1987.  He then emigrated to the U.S. where He obtained a Master's degree in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.
 
He has been teaching graduate classes in conflict analysis and resolution, and has conducted training, research and evaluation of conflict resolution and peacebuilding programs in several countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.  He also authored, and co-authored, several research and evaluation teaching manuals including: Doing What You Want With Your Data, A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning and Implementing Evaluation Strategies, and Qualitative Evaluation: The What and Why.

He has been an active figure in promoting effective cross-cultural messages within the Islamic and Arabic-speaking communities in America through workshops, T.V. and radio presentations.  He has also been actively involved in inter-faith dialogues in the United States.  He pioneered the development of the first conflict resolution training manual for the Muslim communities in the United States titled (“…Say Peace”).  He also founded Project LIGHT (Learning Islamic Guidance for Human Tolerance), a community peer-based anti-discrimination project funded by the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ).
 

Graduated in Law by the University of Oviedo, Spain (1972). Diploma by the Centre for International Law and Relations Studies (International Law Academy, Den Haag, 1979). Diploma cum laude by the International Institute of Human Rights (Strasbourg, 1981). Lecturer on Public International Law, Universities of Oviedo, Leon and Diplomatic School (Madrid) (1972-1982). Former staff member of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Geneva, 1982-2005). Research on human rights situation in most of Latin American countries and some African, Asian and European countries. Representing the UN before more than 170 international conferences on human rights. Drafting numerous reports to the Commission on Human Rights, the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
 

After graduating from the University of Lund, Sweden, Law School (with honors) he worked as a District Judges Assessor at a civil and criminal regional court in Sweden before joining the Swedish Foreign Ministry. With the Ministry he has held various positions at the home-office and abroad, among those as Director for American Affairs, as Director for Asian Affairs, and for Eastern European Affairs. Postings abroad include several in Central America, North and South America, including as Head of Mission in Montevideo, Uruguay and in Managua, Nicaragua. Furthermore Christer has served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Swedish Embassies in Rome, Italy and Vienna, Austria. During 4,5 years Christer served as Senior Advisor at the European Union Council Secretariat, Directorate General for International Relations. More recently Christer served as Ambassador for multilateral co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area, holding in 2006-2007 the presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Committee of Senior Officials, and thereafter served as the Representative of the local EU-presidency in Nicaragua.
Since April 2009 Christer holds the position of Head of the Department of International Law and Human Rights  at the UN-mandated University for Peace, in San José, Costa Rica. He speaks, in addition to his native Swedish, English and Spanish. 

Frans Viljoen obtained the degrees LLB, MA (in Afrikaans literature) and LLD (on the African regional human rights system) from the University of Pretoria (UP); and the degree LLM from Cambridge University.  In October 2007, he was appointed as Director of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. He is also the academic co-ordinator of the LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa), presented by the Centre, in collaboration with seven partner law faculties across Africa. He is also the author of numerous articles, especially dealing with human rights issues, and International human rights law in Africa. He is editor-in-chief of the African Human Rights Law Journal and co-editor of the English and French versions of the African Human Rights Law Reports

Mrs. Margarette May Macaulay, LL.B(Hons) Lond., is an Attorney-at-Law in private practice in Jamaica since 1976. She is also a member of the Bars of other commonwealth countries. She is a Notary Public, a Mediator of the Supreme Court of Jamaica, a Women's and Children's Rights Advocate, and an Associate Arbitrator.

Juan Carlos Sainz-Borgo is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of International Law and Human Rights at UPEACE. He is also Associate Professor of International Law at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas since 1998. Professor of Humanitarian International Law at the Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Bogota since 2009; he was Fulbright Visiting Professor at the Washington College of Law at the American University in 2008-2009. He served as Jurist to the Regional Delegation of Venezuela and the Caribbean of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Juan Carlos Sainz-Borgo has a Law Degree, Master in International Law and Doctorate (Cum Laude) from the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and a Master Degree from Oxford University, UK. He has published four books on international law and international relations and a numerous articles in different publications in the field.

Assistant Professor, in Human Rights, Media, and Peace; Vice Rector Office
Ph.D., University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2009. LL.M. in International Public Law at Amsterdam Law School, 2007, and M.Sc. in International Relations and Communication Science, University of Amsterdam, 2005.

Before obtaining her first Master’s Degree, Julia Hoffmann studied Media Management at the Institute for Journalism and Communication Science in Hanover, Germany, and Political Philosophy at Hong Kong University.

She has been working as an academic lecturer since 2006 and as a free-lance consultant, speaker and trainer for a number of NGOs in the field of media, human rights, peace and conflict.
 

Member of the Office of the Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs, Secretariat of the United Nations. Previously a member of the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs. Formerly a legal adviser and a delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the Philippines, and Rwanda. LLM, London School of Economics and Political Science; PhD, University of Cambridge. Areas of expertise are the law of international organisations, international humanitarian law, international law regulating the use of force, and the law of treaties.

Mihir Kanade is the Director of the UPEACE Human Rights Centre and is an Academic Consultant to the Department of International Law and Human Rights at UPEACE. Prior to the present position, Mihir practiced for 6 years as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court, focusing on issues of fundamental human rights violations. He holds a LL.B. from Nagpur University and a Master’s degree in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes from UPEACE. He has served as a legal advisor to many human rights organizations in India and has represented them before different courts and tribunals in criminal, constitutional and labour cases. His principal area of academic research and study is Human Rights and International Trade Linkages, on which he has also worked as a consultant with the United Nations University, Tokyo.

Former Deputy Head of the Department of International Law and Human Rights and Instructor.

M.A International Law and Settlement of Disputes, University for Peace; M.A International Relations, International University of Japan. She is also Executive Coordinator of the Human Rights Centre. Before joining the University for Peace she was teaching international law at the Espíritu Santo University in Ecuador and worked as correspondent for the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants for the World Refugee Survey 2005, 2006 and 2007. She also worked as Law Clerk at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Olger I. González Espinoza. Costarrican.  Currently, he is Staff Legal Officer at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, where he has worked for eight years in various positions. He currently coordinates one of the six working groups of the Court’s permanent Registry. Olger completed a Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA. European Master) in Venice and Strasbourg, a diploma on transitional justice, human rights and democratisation at the University of Chile and earned his law degree from the University of Costa Rica. He has followed various human rights specialized courses, completed a Professional Visit to the European Court of Human Rights (2004) and participated in an OAS electoral observation mission (Guatemala, 2007). He has lectured on the Inter-American system issues in several institutions, both in Costa Rica and abroad, such as the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (San José), the University for Peace (San José), McGill University (Montréal, Canada), Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil), Universidad José Simeón Cañas (El Salvador), as well as in several fora to public servants, NGOs and national institutions.

Docteur en droit, University of Strasbourg, France. Specialized studies (political sciences and constitutional law) in the Center for Constitutional Studies, Madrid. Former Alternate Representative to the United Nations (Geneva). Former Legal Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (San Jose, C. Rica). Professor at the University of Costa Rica since 1984. Publications in the field of international and constitutional law. Former Viceminister of Interior, Costa Rica.

Doctorate in Public International Law and Political Science, Senior Manager of ICRC Operational and diplomatic delegations, senior manager of Operations at HQ, confirmed expert in Public International Law, IHL, Legal Adviser, Diplomatic Adviser, Political and Policy Adviser. Have taught PIL and IHL at the invitation of many major universities in all continents of the world over the past 30 years, including Latin America and the Caribbean and the U. Peace, guest professor in various universities of South Africa and Russia. Have developped programes of cooperation with many universities in the world in support of teaching and research in IHL with ICRC support.

Tomas Ojea Quintana, currently the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar.  He recently had the first meeting of a UN human rights official with Aung Sang Su Chi.  He is an Argentine lawyer who has spent his career focusing on the problems of the “disappeared” in Argentina and especially the cases of the children who were taken from the “disappeared” and forcibly adopted by military officials.