Human Rights and International Criminal Law: An Introduction

Discover how human rights and criminal law connect or challenge each other

Are you a master’s student or a professional new to international law and relations? On this 4-week course, you will build your understanding of human rights law (HRL), international criminal law (ICL), and how the two concepts relate to each other.

Understand the history of human rights law and international criminal law

In week one, you’ll explore how international law instruments and institutions deal with human rights protection. You’ll also examine the history of the international criminal court (ICC) and how it was established to hold serious criminals responsible for their crimes.

Explore how ICL addresses sexual and gender violence

You’ll analyse the progress and challenges of ICL in addressing sexual and gender violence, focusing on the international legal framework for these sorts of crimes.

There is a very poor conviction rate for sexual assault and rape cases, so you’ll evaluate how the international community can ensure accountability for sexual crimes.

Analyse the interconnection between ICL and children’s rights

Next, you’ll analyse how ICL has made progress in reducing crimes against children. You’ll evaluate the way humanitarian law has developed to protect children involved in armed conflicts, such as child soldiers.

Discover the international human rights courts

In the final week, we’ll look at the international human rights courts and how they address international crime cases.

You’ll explore whether states should be held accountable for human rights violations, armed conflicts and organised violence committed internationally, and consider what human rights courts can do when faced with these threats.

This course is for master’s students in international law and international relations, professionals, human rights activists and NGO officers looking to explore this area of international law studies.

This course is for master’s students in international law and international relations, professionals, human rights activists and NGO officers looking to explore this area of international law studies.

• Explain the interplay between human rights, gender issues, the rights of the child, and international criminal law (ICL)
• Assess to what extent ICL has actually met the expectations of the victims of crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and what has been the contribution of international prosecutions to the cause of human rights
• Compare the tools available for women and children to claim their rights when involved in situations of organised violence
• Debate on whether international criminal and human rights courts effectively protect the most vulnerable in situations of armed conflict or widespread violence
• Engage in mapping and sharing information on agencies that fight against sexual and gender-based violence
• Reflect on what individuals, civil society organisations and like-minded governments done to prioritise human rights in fighting international crimes and ending impunity, and on what still needs be done