What are human rights? How effective is the human rights regime in our current world? What role do various actors, such as states, international organizations, corporations, civil society and others, play in upholding and protecting human rights? How can individuals advocate for their rights and what mechanisms exist to protect individual and group rights?

In this class, we will address all the above questions and more. After introducing the philosophical, political and legal foundations of human rights, we will explore existing international and regional mechanisms of human rights. We will also discuss different types of human rights and contemporary challenges in the world. We will critically address the importance and effectiveness of human rights in today’s world.