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The course explores multiple dimensions of human rights protection, addressing both the universal framework and regional systems, with a particular focus on the European model of protection and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Participants will engage with both timeless and highly topical human rights issues, examining the complexity and diversity of protection models across different legal and institutional contexts. Special attention will be devoted to human rights protection as a fundamental component of the contemporary system of Public International Law. Focusing on topics such as the sources of international law, treaty law, legal personality, and state responsibility, students will develop the ability to identify and analyze divergences between the core concepts of international law and the specific approaches of international human rights law. The course will also examine the specific roles of international organizations and non-state actors in the human rights field, highlighting their contributions to the development, monitoring, and enforcement of human rights standards. Distinguishing between universal and regional levels of protection, participants will become familiar with key mechanisms, including individual complaints, state reporting, and fact-finding missions, and will critically analyze their effectiveness in practice. Selected case law from the UN treaty bodies and the European Court of Human Rights will be examined, providing concrete examples of how international human rights law functions in practice. By linking theoretical knowledge with the study of selected case law, the course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the most important aspects of international human rights protection.
Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (15.07.2026)
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1. A minimum attendance rate of 70% is required in order to sit the exam. 2. The written exam will be held at the end of the semester: 8 closed questions requiring concise answers and explanations (no essay-type questions), closed book (use of dictionaries permitted). The questions will be related to the relevant legal instruments of international human rights protection covered during the course. Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (15.07.2026)
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Předmět zahrnuje tato témata: 1. Sources of International Human Rights Law (hard law, soft law, ius cogens) 2. Universal mechanisms of protection (governmental and non-governmental organizations) 3. Universal human rights treaties and the UN Charter-based system 4. The UN treaty-based system and its control mechanisms: admissibility criteria 5. ICCPR case studies (individual communications, admissibility) 6. ICERD case studies (racial discrimination) 7. Regional systems of human rights protection: comparative overview (Inter-American, African) 8. The European system of human rights protection: general overview 9. Council of Europe instruments of protection 10. The European Convention on Human Rights: institutions and procedures (ECtHR, admissibility) 11. ECHR case studies (individual applications) 12. The European protection of minorities Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (15.07.2026)
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Základní literatura: 1. JOSEPH, Sarah (Sarah Louise) a MCBETH, Adam. Research handbook on international human rights law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, c2010. ISBN 978-1-84980-055-6. 2. ADDO, Michael K. The legal nature of international human rights. Leiden, the Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2010. ISBN 1-282-94954-3. 3. RAINEY, Bernadette; WICKS, Elizabeth, OVEY, Clare. The European Convention on Human Rights. 6th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. ISBN 978-0-19-965508-3. 4. GERARDS, Janneke. General principles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023. ISBN 978-1-316-51753-6. Ostatní literatura: 1. KRIANGSAK KITTICHAISAREE. International human rights law and diplomacy. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020. ISBN 1-83910-219-5. 2. ATAPATTU, Sumudu. UN Human Rights Institutions and the Environment: Synergies, Challenges, Trajectories. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis, 2023. ISBN 1000878856. 3. CLAPHAM, Andrew. Human rights obligations of non-state actors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-19-928846-1. 4. ALSTON, Philip a GOODMAN, Ryan. International human rights: the successor to international human rights in context: law, politics and morals : text and materials. Oxford: Oxford University Press, c2013. ISBN 978-0-19-957872-6. 5. WAUGHRAY, Annapurna, KEANE, David. Fifty years of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination A living instrument. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2017. ISBN 9781526116499. 6. BROWN, Gordon (ed.) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the 21st century: a living document in a changing world. New York: Open Book Publishers, 2016. ISBN 9782821881679. 7. VERDIRAME, Guglielmo. The UN and human rights: who guards the guardians? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. ISBN 1-107-21825-X Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (15.07.2026)
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For successfully competition of this course, students are able to: 1. Explain the main sources of international human rights law, including treaty law, customary international law, ius cogens, and the role of soft law instruments. 2. Analyse the relationship between international human rights law and public international law, particularly with regard to sources of law, legal personality, and state responsibility. 3. Describe the structure and functioning of the universal system of human rights protection within the framework of the United Nations. 4. Identify and interpret the key international human rights treaties, including their objectives, scope, and monitoring mechanisms. 5. Explain the operation of the UN treaty-based monitoring system, including the admissibility requirements and procedures for individual communications before UN treaty bodies. 6. Analyse selected case law of UN treaty bodies, particularly in relation to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. 7. Compare universal and regional systems of human rights protection, including the Inter-American and African regional frameworks. 8. Explain the institutional and legal structure of the European system of human rights protection, with particular attention to the role of the Council of Europe. 9. Interpret the institutional framework and procedures established under the European Convention on Human Rights, including the jurisdiction and admissibility criteria of the European Court of Human Rights. 10. Analyse selected judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, applying key interpretative concepts such as the margin of appreciation and European consensus. 11. Evaluate the contribution of international organizations and non-state actors, including NGOs and international institutions, to the promotion and protection of human rights. 12. Discuss selected contemporary issues in international human rights protection, including minority protection and the interaction between universal, regional, and national mechanisms. Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (15.07.2026)
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