LLM Sustainability, Social Justice and Human Rights Law

This module enables you to critically investigate the legal and policy issues surrounding the protection of the global environment. The institutions involved and the nature of international law as it affects the environment are to be examined through a series of diverse and contemporary case studies. It includes a critical appraisal of the current regulatory approach towards permitting concerning achieving legal objectives and environmental sustainability - Climate change and energy management and associated links with human rights.

In this module, you explore various legal, political, social and cultural influences which have shaped the treatment of women's rights in international law.

You will have the opportunity to consider particular issues in more depth, such as those relating to gender identity and gender-related discrimination, reproductive rights, violence against women and girls and intersectionality. Sexual orientation and gender identity in international law will be explored, including the treatment of these issues in key human rights instruments and the relevance of key legal principles such as privacy and non-discrimination.

The module enables you to evaluate international and regional instruments concerning other minority rights and considers how western/euro-centric rights concepts might be challenged. Some of the particular issues covered are discrimination, hate speech, and considering the importance of social and political movements such as MeToo and Black Lives Matter. The syllabus for this module is living and dynamic and responds to contemporary issues related to gender, sexuality and minority rights.

Concern about protecting human rights during and after conflict remains an issue in a globalised world with armed conflict. This module introduces the development of international human rights thinking and the creation and operation of fundamental international human rights treaties. It then moves on to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) (law of armed conflict). You will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of (IHL) and its relationship with International Human Rights Law (IHRL). In particular, the module focuses on the following:

• The development of IHL.
• The sources of IHL.
• The distinction between international and non-international conflict.
• The protections given to non-combatants.
• The controls on targeting and weapons.
• The enforcement of IHL.

You will also explore the values that shape the treatment of refugees in international law and key international and regional instruments, the principles of the law governing refugee protection and the implications of these principles for contemporary contexts, such as people escaping harm caused by climate change.

The module enhances your understanding of the complex but fascinating relationship between international human right law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law.

The law relating to children is fast becoming a subject of international and regional concern rather than exclusively a domestic issue for individual state parties. At the international level, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989 (CRC) has been of great interest to international lawyers because of its near-universal ratification. Optional protocols have further strengthened this critical code of children's rights on 'Children and Armed Conflict', the 'Sale of children, child pornography and child prostitution'. A third protocol was opened for signature in 2012, establishing a new communication procedure under the CRC. The movement of families and the proliferation of family forms have also raised practical challenges for legal regimes established by the Hague Conference dealing with intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction. The labour markets of developed and developing nations continue raising issues about how children can be protected from exploitative practices. This module seeks to introduce you to international child law and policy.

As part of social justice, the module explores the 'second generation' of human rights - economic, social and cultural rights. These may include rights such as access to education, health care and housing. The module explores debates about the nature and justiciability of socio-economic rights and sees how they have been implemented at an international level, for example, under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Finally, the module demonstrates how socio-economic rights are applied directly in international and national courts. An example of this is the constitutional protection of rights and how these rights are protected indirectly, for instance, when judges interpret the right to life or freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment (civil and political rights) as having implications for the protection of socio-economic rights such as health and housing.

This final 60-credit module bridges a Postgraduate Diploma and an LLM. It has two parts: researching a topic and producing work that draws on the research to represent an advanced account of a particular area of law associated with the programme title.

The dissertation is studied independently with the assistance of a supervisor and is a chance for the student to pursue a relevant area of law of particular interest academically. The dissertation requires you to practice a range of skills developed over the course of the programme: researching and critically reviewing national and international literature, applying theoretical frameworks, research design and ethics, data collection and analysis, research writing and dissemination.

You will be orientated towards high-level independent study based on the preparatory work conducted in research methods workshops. These workshops emphasise developing research skills that will equip the student with the expertise to undertake relevant and topical research allied to the dissertation. The core material covers:

• Critiquing academic and practitioner research from a range of published sources.
• Developing tools and techniques for writing a critical literature review.
• Methodological considerations.
• Research design.
• Research ethics.
• Evaluating and communicating research.

You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor. Individual supervisors will work closely with you on a one-to-one basis to set goals, monitor progress and provide general and specific advice on research strategy, framing questions and scholarly writing.

You will be able to develop the theoretical and practical understanding learned throughout the programme as well as independent study and research skills, critical analysis and the ability to evaluate. The nature of a sustained and in-depth study can prove a valuable resource for future employment or further study.