Comparative Human Rights

Human rights issues are both universal and contested. As human beings, we should all have human rights; yet there remains deep disagreement about the meaning and application of human rights. Courts in different jurisdictions face similar human rights questions; yet the answers often differ. At the same time, there is a growing transnational conversation between courts, with cases in one jurisdiction being discussed and cited in other jurisdictions. This course uses comparative methodology to examine the ways in which central human rights questions are addressed in different jurisdictions. On the one hand, the shared language of human rights and equality suggests that there should be similar solutions to comparable problems. On the other hand, there are important differences between legal institutions, socio-economic development, history and culture.

The course uses comparative human rights jurisprudence to examine these issues. Our main materials are judgments in different courts and the fascinating ways in which these difficult questions are decided. We are not a course in theory, but we use theory to understand the jurisprudence of different courts. We also use case-law to revisit our theory, even if this means radically different understandings of what a human right is. The course is unusual in that we contest the division between socio-economic rights and civil and political rights. So, when we address the right to life and security, we look at capital punishment and abortion as well as the right to health, housing and welfare. When we look at liberty rights, such as freedom of expression, we also look at the right to education. We are primarily court-centred, but we also take a critical look at a court-centred approach, by considering what constraints this might place on human rights, and by comparing to non-legal methods. The course integrates international and comparative human rights materials on a thematic basis: we look at a number of jurisdictions – primarily the USA, Canada, India, and South Africa – but we also look at international and regional instruments (specifically the European Convention on Human Rights) for the substance of the rights.

Students are encouraged to participate in the activities of the Oxford Human Rights Hub, which is directed by Professor Fredman. The Hub website features daily blogs on cutting edge new developments in human rights and equality law, and students on the course are encouraged both to read and to contribute to the blog. The Hub also produces webinars and podcasts on pressing current issues in comparative human rights and equality law.

Assessment is by way of an examination.