Instructor: Dr. Gerd Oberleitner
This e-learning course is a high-level introduction to the Human Rights Council, the main human rights body of the United Nations (UN). The course is scheduled parallel to the regular session of the Human Rights Council. Depending on the Council’s schedule it will also provide “live” coverage of the Universal Periodic Review session and special sessions. By making extensive use of the Council’s website — which contains legal documents, press releases, and audio and video files on the session, and is updated daily — course participants will be able to learn about the UN’s human rights activities as they present themselves to the world: in real-time, with immediate access to the original material, live and uncut, and with all the dramatic twists and turns a session of the Council offers. The course will expose students to the real world of human rights in the making and offer them a glimpse into the world of human rights diplomacy on the highest possible level. An experienced course instructor will guide the participants through the Council’s session so as to ensure a learning experience on a high academic level.
The course will start with a brief introduction to the UN human rights system, including the core UN human rights standards and supervisory machineries and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It will assess the legacy of the dissolved Commission on Human Rights and the reform which led to the creation of the Human Rights Council. It will focus in-depth on the Council, its role, functioning and limitations; examine the newly established Council’s Advisory Committee; analyse the place of the Council in the larger UN framework; and (based on international law and international relations theory) reflect on the potential and limits of global human rights institutions such as the Human Rights Council.
During the four weeks of the Council’s session (and possible additional sessions) participants will be asked to follow the meetings of the Council, focus on specific issues, read the relevant materials as they appear on the website and as recommended by the course facilitator (press releases, reports of Special Rapporteurs, resolutions, statements by dignitaries, etc.), analyse the performance of the actors and stakeholders in the session, evaluate the voting procedure and outcome of the sessions, and form their own opinion on the work of the Human Rights Council. The course is intended to provide participants with the necessary skills to understand in-depth how multi-lateral human rights bodies function in their manifold capacity as law-making institutions, fora for discussions and reflection, and adjudicators of states’ human rights performance. Participants will learn how law, policy and diplomacy come together and interact in the field of human rights.
The course instructor will provide information in form of on-line material and “mini-lectures” in the weeks preceding the Council’s session. He will guide participants through the session, recommend readings and will comment on the events. During the course NGO-staff, staff of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and staff of diplomatic missions will be available to participants in Q&A sessions via online chat sessions and webinars.