Unit rationale, description and aim
Migration practitioners need to have an appreciation of human rights obligations to better support and advocate for their clients. This unit introduces students to the principles and doctrines of human rights and their international frameworks, including key legal instruments, the United Nations system, treaty bodies, and regional human rights mechanisms. It provides a foundation for understanding the relevance of human rights in contemporary global contexts and the social, ethical, and legal implications of their violation.
Throughout the semester, students will develop the ability to critically analyse international human rights standards, agreements, and legislation, both in theory and in practice. The unit encourages students to examine global and regional human rights issues, fostering awareness of the complexities involved in protecting and promoting human rights. By engaging with contemporary challenges and real-world case studies, students will enhance their analytical and evaluative skills, enabling them to identify ethical dilemmas, assess compliance with international standards, and consider practical solutions.
The aim of this unit is to enable students to thoughtfully engage with human rights discourse and strengthen their capacity to inform policy, legal practice, and social advocacy in a globalised world.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Apply the foundational principles and doctrines of...
Learning Outcome 01
Examine the ethical implications and societal impa...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically analyse international human rights stan...
Learning Outcome 03
Examine contemporary global and local human rights...
Learning Outcome 04
Undertake independent research in a specific area ...
Learning Outcome 06
Content
Topics will include:
- Introduction to Human Rights. A historical approach
- Civil and Political Rights / Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- The United Nations Human Rights System. Charter Bodies / Treaty System and Bodies
- Regional Systems of Human Rights
- Human Rights in Australia
- Human Rights Limitations and Mechanisms of enforcement
- The Human Rights of Vulnerable Groups, including children, women, indigenous peoples & people with disabilities.
- Global issues and Human Rights, including human rights in armed conflicts (International Humanitarian Law); refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons; and climate change.
- Human Rights and Social Change
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy in this unit is structured to develop both foundational knowledge of human rights law and advanced skills in research, analysis, and communication. Weekly discussion forum posts encourage students to draw from key concepts and debates, reinforcing learning through regular reflection and application to contemporary issues. The human rights briefing provides an opportunity for students to explore the historical and legal dimensions of a specific human right in depth, while critically assessing the challenges to its effective implementation. Building on these skills, the research essay requires students to formulate and defend a structured argument on a chosen human rights issue, integrating legal frameworks, treaty standards, and scholarly analysis. Together, the assessments balance formative and summative approaches, ensuring alignment with the learning outcomes while preparing students to apply human rights principles.
To pass the unit, students must achieve an overall mark of at least 50%. The final grade will be based on the total marks from all assessment items completed. While you don’t have to complete every assessment item, only the assessments you submit will contribute to your final grade.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1 – Interactive Discussion Forum Asses...
Assessment 1 – Interactive Discussion Forum Assessments
Details: Students are expected to contribute weekly discussion forum posts addressing key concepts, standards, and mechanisms of human rights across international, regional, and domestic contexts. Posts should demonstrate careful analysis of human rights issues, including identification of potential violations and their ethical and societal implications. Contributions should draw on lecture content, readings, and independent research, with accurate referencing to maintain academic integrity. Reviewing and reflecting on peers’ posts will help students develop nuanced perspectives on current human rights challenges and the practical application of human rights instruments. Students will be required to submit a portfolio of their forum responses at the end of the semester which will also include a reflection.
Purpose: This assessment is designed to help students consolidate a thorough understanding of human rights principles (LO1), recognise and evaluate violations and their impacts (LO2), and critically analyse international standards and legislation (LO3). It also supports the identification of global and local human rights issues (LO4), evaluation of enforcement mechanisms (LO5), independent research (LO6), and the application of human rights instruments in practical scenarios, including communication with UN Committees (LO7). By requiring thoughtful, evidence-based contributions and engagement with peers, the assessment promotes learning, analytical skills, and academic integrity throughout the unit.
Format: Weekly discussion forum posts and reflection.
10%
Assessment Task 2 – Human Rights Briefing Detail...
Assessment Task 2 – Human Rights Briefing
Details: The students will be allocated a specific human right from the first or second generation. Their task is to study and create a summary of this right, including the history of its acknowledgement, contemporary issues, and an analysis of the aspects that may jeopardise its respect and implementation by States.
Purpose: The purpose of this assessment is to develop students’ understanding of a specific human right and its historical, legal, and contemporary context. It requires students to critically analyse the factors that may hinder the respect and implementation of the right by States. The task fosters research, analytical, and critical thinking skills while encouraging a nuanced appreciation of the challenges facing human rights in practice.
Format: Oral Presentation
50%
Assessment Task 3 – Critical Research Review Det...
Assessment Task 3 – Critical Research Review
Details: This assessment requires students to produce a research-based review examining a human rights issue from either a local or global perspective. Students must formulate a clear research question, develop a coherent argument, support their claims with evidence, address counter-arguments, and present a well-reasoned conclusion.
Purpose: The purpose of this assessment is to develop students’ ability to critically analyse potential human rights violations in a specific country and apply international treaty frameworks. The task fosters research, legal analysis, and professional communication skills within the context of international human rights practice.
Format: Written Assessment
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Students will be led from a historical basis to a contemporary practical and critical approach.
During the first three weeks the foundations will be covered (history and first and second generations of human rights); creating in students a sense of curiosity of their role in guaranteeing the respect and prevalence of human rights. Then, students will be immersed in the United Nations System to understand the treaties and bodies created for the protection of human rights, including regional systems and mechanisms of enforcement. Once students are familiar with concepts, principles and institutional framework, they will be introduced to the critical aspect of the unit, where they will examine the correspondence between global issues and human rights; to finalise with a critical analysis on social change.