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Basic Principles of International Human Rights

Learn about the core characteristics of human rights and how they shape international law.

Transcript

I.               The Origin of Human Rights Law

Human rights is a unique area of international law that protects a country’s citizens from their own government. Historically, the absolute sovereignty of a state meant that it was free to treat its own citizens however it chose, without interference from other nations. Over time, the prevalence of this view faded. It’s a danger clearly demonstrated by the Holocaust.

In 1948,...

Lessons

5. Law of War
  • The Law of War and Defining Force
  • Justifications for the Use of Force
  • Humanitarian Law
6. International Criminal Law
  • Theories of Liability in International Criminal Law
  • The International Criminal Court
  • Crimes Subject to ICC Jurisdiction
  • Other International Crimes
7. Human Rights Law
  • Basic Principles of International Human Rights
  • Categories of Human Rights
  • Human Rights Institutions