HUMR4504 – Human Rights in Practice
Course content
Human rights ideas and norms have been increasingly operationalized through the actions of diverse actors such as states, multi-lateral organisations, social movements, NGOs and community groups. Operationalization takes place therefore across different kinds of activist, professional and institutional spaces. How and when these abstract norms encounter messy ‘real world’ practicalities of organisational, social, economic, political and cultural contexts, though posing many dilemmas, has in general received limited reflection. Obvious cases in point are how and why certain human rights issues and approaches are prioritized over others, by whom, and to what end and, in particular, what effect. Better critical multi-disciplinary experience and assessment of human rights practice and practitioners can enhance awareness of these challenges especially in addressing the problematic issue of therefore what creates change and the diversity of impact in human rights interventions. With many graduates from the programme Theory and Practice of Human Rights (master`s two years) seeking to work in the human rights field, exposure to the daily mechanics of ‘human rights practice’ is beneficial in the following ways:
- to develop critical thinking, insight and ‘hands on’ understanding by doing human rights practice;
- to provide a structure for interns to reflect on theory, work and experiences in the field;
- to prepare for an internship
- to develop practical employment-related skills and hands-on experience of practice.
Tasks during the internship will vary because these are set by each receiving organisation but typically include:
- information gathering
- analysis, evaluation and presentation
- report writing
- administrative tasks, such as organising conferences and seminars
- participating in and reflecting on outreach activities etc
Learning outcome
This course enables students to link their theoretical studies to deepening understanding of human rights practice, especially through an internship, which creates a feedback loop to enhancing theory and critical reflection. Upon completion of this course, students will have acquired the following.?
Knowledge:?
Good knowledge of key issues in human rights practice.?
Good knowledge of how and why selected human rights are implemented and applied in practice.?
Good knowledge of the ethical issues and challenges that arise in human rights practice.?
Knowledge about human rights actors work.?
Knowledge of the tools and tactics at the disposal of human rights practitioners.?
Skills:?
Ability to identify and analyse key issues in the practice of human rights.?
Analyse and identify ethical issues that arise in the work of human rights practitioners.?
Know the main actors and how they each contribute to human rights in practice.?
Be able to critically evaluate the policy, practice and literature produced by the various actors within human rights practice.?
Ability to evaluate information?
Evaluating impact of work?
General competence:?
Be able to perform relevant human rights work in government institutions, academia, law firms, companies, and organisations relating to human rights.?
Have an understanding of the main interests and concerns relating to the practice of human rights; and an understanding of the evolution of the practice of human rights.?
Developing specific skills attractive to employers.?
Admission to the course
Admission is limited to students undergoing the study programme The Theory and Practice of Human Rights (master).
Teaching
Introductory lectures address themes including the what, why, and how of different types of human rights ‘practice’ (such as, what is practice?). Dilemmas in practices are examined by looking critically at actors and organisations and to develop understanding of ‘impact’ in human rights work.??
For the internship, students will have preparation in applying for an internship from a list of positions - which are subject to availability and competition, within a prescribed deadline. Each student application will apply for a maximum three positions. Internship partner organisations will? usually make the final selection, but where necessary, in cooperation with NCHR. Please note: in order to maximise opportunities for all students, each participant is limited to one internship through the NCHR programme. If a student is not able to do an internship due to any unforeseen circumstance, then an alternative way of justifying the 10 credits will be used: writing an extended research paper on human rights practice, followed by an oral defence.?
Students can also independently attain their own internship position, but which is subject to approval by the course leader and NCHR. The internship runs mainly during the summer period, but can also be organised earlier or later depending on circumstances.?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.?
Examination
Assessment will be done through:?
An internship report, maximum 4 pages (pass/fail). The aim is to use course readings when describing and reflecting upon and contextualizing the internship experience.?
Reflection and debriefing group seminars (attending either one before summer break, or, one in december).?
Research project of 4500 words for those not doing an internship. In addition, there will be an oral defence of the project.?
Both the course and internship should also be used by students to develop a research question and material for their thesis. For those not undertaking the internship, the student must formulate in writing the topic of the research paper addressing human rights practice and a brief statement of methodology. The research topic must be approved in writing by the course leader in advance. Further instructions about both the internship report, and research paper for those not doing an internship, will be given during the course.?
Examination support material
All support material is allowed
Language of examination
English
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
This guide is used by examiners for grading this course.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.