European Human Rights Law: Seminar
Fall term, Block N
F 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Visiting Professor Grainne de Burca
2 classroom credits LAW-93036A
This seminar aims to introduce participants to the field of European human rights law by focusing on two separate but increasingly overlapping systems of human rights protection in Europe. The first is the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) system, which is the supposed jewel-in-the-crown of the Council of Europe system. The second is the European Union's emergent system of human rights protection and promotion. The first part of the course will focus on the ECHR system, on its strengths and weaknesses, and the challenges currently facing it. Particular attention will be given to the role and jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, focusing upon a number of selected topics such as anti-discrimination law, and human rights and anti-terrorism. The second part will examine the development of the newer human rights regime within the EU, its relationship with the ECHR system, and its implications for human rights protection in Europe more generally. The basic framework and functioning of each of the two systems will be discussed and compared, and the interaction between them considered, drawing on topics such as their treatment of Turkey, and of challenges brought against the UN Security Council.