LAW 607 - Gender and Human Rights Sem

Gender and Human Rights Seminar This course studies and critically assesses the role of international human rights law in bringing about social change. The course uses gender, specifically the treatment and status of women, as a lens for exploring this issue. The course begins with theories on state behavior, which will provide a foundation for exploring the role of law in changing state practices. Topics to be explored will include international trafficking of women, gender and citizenship, womenÂ¿s political participation, the regulation of gender issues by customary law in plural legal systems, womenÂ¿s access to land, violence against women, and gender mainstreaming in national policy development. Through study of these specific topics, students will examine the potential and limits of law as a mechanism for bringing about particular substantive changes within a society or organization. This course will complement the existing international law courses that address human rights, such as Human Rights Law, International Trade Law, and Public International Law. The Human Rights Law course provides students with a foundation in the fundamental aspects of human rights law, which includes the sources of international law, United Nations human rights instruments, methods for enforcing human rights law, and non-governmental organizations that promote human rights enforcement. This seminar will provide in-depth coverage of the topics noted above. Preferred Course: Public International Law, Human Rights Law.

Students can choose to have this course satisfy the writing requirement or not.