PADM 5855. International Human Rights

5. Civil and Political Rights

19 and 21 February 2024

This session will examine the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the working of the Human Rights Council and the Human Rights Committee, as well as relevant Special Rapporteurs. It will look particularly at Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Questions covered	How is the Human Rights Committee organized and who are its members? How do States present their reports? How do NGOs deal with the reports? What is the Secretariat's role in the Council and the Committee? What are the main issues with the Human Rights Council?.
Lectures	Civil and Political Rights lecture
Required readings	McFarland, Chapters 3, 16, 18,  and 26 Richard K. Ghere, NGO Leadership and Human Rights, Slippery Terminology: Strategically Crafted Rhetoric in Development and Human Rights, Rights-Based Leadership and Transformative Change, Performance and Accountability in Rights-Focused NGOs. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights UNOHCHR, Human Rights Committee, Working Methods
Recommended readings	Concluding observations on the second periodic report of Honduras
Simulation	We will review the report of Chile, one group being the government, one the committee, one being NGOs and one the Secretariat. The documents are in the course Canvas.
Discussion questions	What are the main areas about which the Committee asks? How would an NGO affect the review process? What are the main qualifications of Committee members?
Recording	Recordings of 19 and 21 February will be in the course Canvas

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Revised: February 3, 2024 .