Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
International Institutions and Human Rights
Teaching staff
Appointment by previous e mail to the teacher.
Introduction
This subject is structured in two large blocks: the first focuses on the analysis of international institutions and the second on the study of Human Rights.
The main objective of this course is that the student is able to identify and understand how the international community is organized, distinguish the institutional structures that exist in an increasingly globalized world, where this type of organizations take on a growing role and affect all the territorial levels. Likewise, it is also a main objective that the student knows what Human Rights we have, their conceptualization, historical trajectory and interpretation.
Pre-course requirements
Objectives
The main objectives are summarized in the following points:
1. Deepen the structure and institutionalization of the international community
2. Be able to identify and classify the various types of international organizations
3. Study relevant and concrete examples of international organizations, such as the United Nations and regional organizations, such as the European Union
4. Analyze the background and historical evolution of Human Rights
5. Understand the concept of Human Rights
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- E02 - Ability to use methods and techniques specific to human sciences.
- E03 - Ability to appropriately use key concepts in the area of culture.
- E05 - Ability to evaluate social issues linked to cultural diversity.
- E06 - Awareness of and respect for different points of view resulting from cultural and social diversity.
- E07 - To acquire knowledge on the different issues and problems of current cultural debate and be aware of their constant change.
- E20 - Ability to reflect on human-environment interaction and the organisation of the resulting territory.
- E21 - To master the different levels and functions of language.
- E24 - Ability to present the results of research project in accordance with the standards of each subject area.
- E25 - Ability to communicate orally in one's own language and other languages using the terminology and resources accepted in the cultural framework of each language
- E26 - Ability to read and write texts in one's own language and other languages, as well as transcribe, summarise and categorise pertinent information.
- E28 - Ability to organise complex cultural information coherently.
- G02 - To lead, cooordinate and form part of interdisciplinary work teams.
- G03 - To search for and/or administer economic resources within the framework of an institution or company, or a cultural programmes, project or service.
- G04 - To know how to communicate, encourage and mediate between the various agents involved in a cultural project, programme or service.
- G07 - To know how to apply and adapt to new technologies in processes of cultural management, production and dissemination.
- G08 - Ability to carry out research.
- G11 - Ability to work in an international context.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Acquisition of vocabulary and key concepts of the subject
Ability to search and select information in specific documentary sources
Ability to develop arguments and synthesis in oral debates and presentations
Ability to perform synthesis of unequal and complex information
Ability to analyze and synthesize the texts used
Syllabus
I. INTRODUCTION: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
TOPIC 1: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
1.1 Origin and Historical Development of International Organizations
1.2 Classification of International Organizations
a) By their purposes: General-purpose and special-purpose organizations.
b) By their membership: universal and regional organizations.
c) By their competences: Organizations of cooperation and integration.
TOPIC 2: PRINCIPAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PERSONALITY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
2.1 General Ideas
2.2 Right to conclude international treaties
2.3 Right to establish diplomatic relations
2.4 Right to participate in international dispute settlement procedures
2.5 Right to participate in international dispute settlement procedures
2.6 Privileges and responsibilities
II INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF UNIVERSAL SCOPE
TOPIC 3 : THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM
3.1 Background of the United Nations
3.2 Legal nature of the Charter
3.3 The reform and revision of the Charter
TOPIC 4: THE PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS
4.1 The principle of the sovereign equality of states
4.2 The principle of good faith
4.3 The principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes
4.4 The principle of the prohibition of the threat or use of armed force
TOPIC 5: MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNITED NATIONS
5.1 Original Members and Admitted Members
5.2 Suspension and loss of membership status
TOPIC 6: THE ORGANS OF THE UNITED NATIONS
6.1 The General Assembly
6.2 The Security Council
6.3 The International Court of Justice
6.4 The Economic and Social Council
6.5 The Trusteeship Council
6.6 The General Secretary- and the Secretariat
III UNIVERSAL SPECIAL PURPOSE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
TOPIC 7: UNITED NATIONS SPECIALIZED AGENCIES
7.1 The International Labour Organization (ILO)
7.2 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
7.3 The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
7.4 The World Health Organization (WHO)
TOPIC 8: SPECIALIZED AGENCIES FOR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION
8.1 International Monetary Fund (IMF)
8.2 The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
TOPIC 9: OTHER UNIVERSAL, SPECIAL-PURPOSE ORGANIZATIONS
9.1 The World Trade Organization (WTO)
IV REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
TOPIC 10: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ORGANIZATIONS AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL
10.1 General Purpose International Organizations: The Council of Europe
10.2 International Organizations of preferably military cooperation: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
10.3 International Organizations of preferential economic cooperation:
(a) the Benelux
b) the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
c) The European Free Trade Organization (EFTA).
TOPIC 11: THE EUROPEAN UNION
11.1 Origin and Evolution of the European Integration
11.2 Institutional System of the European Union
11.3 The Community Legal System
11.4 Freedom of Movement in the Community System
11.5 Community Policies
TOPIC 12: REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN SPHERE
12.1 International Organizations in the Americas
12.2 International Organizations in Africa
12.3 International Organizations in Asia
V HUMAN RIGHTS
TOPIC 1: PRELIMINARY NOTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
TOPIC 2: PHILOSOPHICAL AND LEGAL BASIS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
2.1. Philosophical and legal foundation of human rights. The 20th century.
TOPIC 3: THE POSITIVIZATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
3.1. History of the positivization of human rights. The 20th century
TOPIC 4: CLASSIFICATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
TOPIC 5: MAIN HUMAN RIGHTS
5.1 Civil rights
5.2 Political rights
5.3 Human rights of social relations
5.4 Economic human rights
5.5 Cultural human rights
TOPIC 6: LIMITS TO HUMAN RIGHTS
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The methodology will combine the use of theoretical contents and practical activities, such as the realization of oral and written practices; Individual and collective. Complementary materials will be distributed in class. In class, audiovisual material will be used, as well as written material. Students must work the subject in a continuous way, getting involved, attending class in an active way, through participation.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Final Exam: 50%
Participation in class: 20%
Individual presentation: 30%
The exam must be passed in order to take into consideration the continuous assessments.
In the event that the teaching staff detects plagiarised work or a student copying during an exam, they will inform the Faculty Board, which will take the appropriate measures, including automatically obtaining a grade of 0.0 for that subject and passing directly to the next exam session.
Bibliography and resources
DÍEZ DE VELASCO, M., Las Organizaciones Internacionales, 14ª ed., (2ª impr.), Tecnos, Madrid, 2006.
VALLE LABRADA RUBIO, Introcucción a la teoria de los Derechos Humanos: Fundamento. Historia. Declaración universal de 10.XII.1948.