This course is designed as an introduction to human rights. It will provide students with an overview to the historical, theoretical, political and legal underpinnings that have shaped and continue to shape the development of human rights. Students will discuss where the concept of human rights originates, how these ideas have been memorialized in international declarations and covenants and how they develop over time and are enforced and monitored. Students will also examine a variety of issues, some controversial, that fall under the rubric of human rights. The overall goal of the course is to encourage students to think differently - to be able to analyze the events of the world and of our community through a human rights framework, including serious violation of human rights, such war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The main goal is to provide students with some of the necessary tools to investigate, research, and think critically about human rights and the roles that we may assume within this arena.
