Unit Guide

LAW4155
International human rights
Semester 1, 2017

Handbook link:
http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/units/index-byfaculty-law.html

Table of contents 1
LAW4155 International human rights - Semester 1 (S1-01) - 2017
 Table of contents
Unit handbook information 4
Synopsis 4
Mode of delivery 4
Workload requirements 4
Unit relationships 4
Prerequisites 4
Prohibitions 4
Co-requisites 4
Chief Examiner(s) 4
Lecturer(s) 5
Academic overview 5
Learning outcomes 5
Unit schedule 5
Teaching approach 5
Assessment summary 5
Assessment requirements 8
Assessment tasks 8
Extensions and special consideration 8
Returning assignments 10
Resubmission of assignments 10
Referencing requirements 10
Assignment submission 10
Academic Integrity 11
Warning about consequences of disciplinary actionfor Law students 11
Feedback to you 12
Your feedback to us 12
Previous student evaluations of this unit 12
Learning resources 13
Required resources 13
Other information 13
Policies 13
Graduate Attributes Policy 13
Student Charter 13
Student Services 13
Monash University Library 14

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 Disability Support Services 14

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 Unit handbook information
Synopsis
This unit is a general introduction to international human rights law. It is concerned with human
rights standards as they exist in international law and the international mechanisms for enforcing
these standards. The unit will consider a selection of specific human rights, limitations to human
rights (e.g. derogation in time of emergency) and some major contemporary international human
rights issues.

Mode of delivery
Clayton (Day)

Workload requirements
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per
semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study.
The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled
activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online
engagement.

Unit relationships

Prerequisites
For students who commenced their LLB (Hons) course in 2015 or later:
LAW1111; LAW1114; LAW1112; LAW1113; LAW2101; LAW2102; LAW2112; LAW2111
For students who commenced their LLB course prior to 2015: LAW1100 OR LAW1101 and
LAW1102 or LAW1104

Prohibitions
None

Co-requisites
None

Chief Examiner(s)

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 Name:ProfessorSarahJoseph
Phone:+61 3 990 55514
Email:Sarah.Joseph@monash.edu
Consultation hours:Consultation by appointment organized by email

Lecturer(s)

Name:Professor Sarah JosephSarahJoseph

Campus:Clayton
Phone:99055514
Email:sarah.joseph@monash.edu

Academic overview
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit students should be able to:

(1) understand and analyse international human rights standards and evaluate mechanisms
designed to enforce human rights at the international/regional level;
(2) explain and critically discuss the content of various human rights, such content being
identified, inter alia, by reference to the case law of the UN treaty monitoring committees and
regional human rights courts;
(3) understand and critically evaluate some of the philosophical bases of and problems with
international human rights law in light of contemporary human rights issues
(4) communicate effectively within an international legal setting
(5) conduct self-directed legal research

Unit schedule

Please refer to Reading Guide.

Teaching approach
Interactive lectures

Video lectures in week 5 (online learning)

Assessment summary

Research paper (2000 words): 40%

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 Research paper (2000 words): 40%
Take-home exam: 60%

Assessment task Value Due date

Research paper 40% 24 April 2017

Take Home Exam 60% 24 May 2017, 5pm

Released on 19/5

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 Marking cri Outstanding Very Good Good (Credit) Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
teria (HD) (D) (Pass) (Fail)

1. Knowledge Very Well Competently Some Limited

& thoroughly researched, researched, relevant research,
Understanding researched, appropriate good use of materials relevant
of the Topic effective use of use of materials; overlooked; materials
materials; materials; majority of some use of overlooked or
comprehensive good relevant research misunderstood;
identification identification issues materials; failure to identify
and discussion and identified and possibly and discuss
of issues discussion discussed. some relevant issues
of issues misunderstan
ding of
issues or
materials

2. Analysis & Thorough Good Some Mainly Insufficient

Argument analysis, deals analysis, analysis of discursive analysis,
effectively with argument issues; with little argument is
complexity of well- argument analysis of lacking or
issues; developed may be issues; basic unsound, failure
persuasively and under- argument is to use relevant
argued supported, developed or unclear or materials, may
throughout, some critical unpersuasive, undeveloped indicate
contrary evaluation of synthesis of or not well confusion or
arguments materials materials with supported, misunderstanding
anticipated, limited critical some
good critical evaluation reference to
evaluation of relevant
materials material

3. Structure & Clear and Suitable and Generally Some Structure and
Writing logical coherent coherent defects in organisation
structure & structure & structure & structure and incoherent or
organisation; organisation; organisation organisation; lacking; poorly
precise and generally but with writing may written, difficult
concise writing well written occasional be difficult to to follow
deficiencies; follow in parts
reasonably
well written

4. Presentation Minimal errors Occasional Some flaws Flaws in Frequent or

& Referencing in expression, minor flaws in expression, expression, repeated flaws in
grammar, in grammar, grammar, expression,
spelling or expression, spelling or spelling or grammar,
punctuation; grammar, punctuation; punctuation; spelling or
full and spelling or may have a number of punctuation;
accurate punctuation; some missing, inadequate
citation of authorities missing, incomplete or citation of
authorities and and sources incomplete or incorrect sources; poor
sources; are incorrect footnote editing
thoroughly generally footnote citations;
edited. cited citations; editing with
correctly; some little care
well edited oversights in
editing

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 Assessment requirements
Assessment tasks

Assessment task title:Research paper

Mode of delivery:via Moodle
Details of task:To be advised
Release date (where applicable):Week 2 of semester
Due date:24 April 2017
Word limit (where applicable):2000 words
Value:40%
Estimated return date:Week 11 of semester
Criteria for marking:As above

Assessment task title:Take Home Exam

Mode of delivery:Via Moodle
Details of task:To be advised
Release date (where applicable):19 May 2017, 9am
Due date:24 May 2017, 5pm
Word limit (where applicable):3000 words
Value:60%
Estimated return date:When exam marks are released just before semester 2
Criteria for marking:As above

Extensions and special consideration

Short extension
You may apply for an extension in a law unit, not exceeding two working days of the due date, by
submitting a Short Extension form to the Chief Examiner of the unit. NB This does not apply to
class tests. Speak to your lecturer before doing this.

Longer extension
If you seek an extension of the due date for an assignment or deferment of a class test, you will
need to submit an in-semester special consideration application form to Student Services no later
than two University working days after the due date or date of the class test.

For further details on the procedures, you must seehttp://monash.edu/exams/special-

consideration.html.

If you are assessed by Student Services as eligible for special consideration, the Chief Examiner
will determine length of extension and will advise you via your student email. If you are assessed
as ineligible, you will be advised by Student Services via email.

Extensions will not be granted beyond the date on which marked assignments are due to be
returned to students.

Special consideration and Deferred Exams

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 A student whose work during a teaching period or whose performance in an examination or other
assessment has been affected by acute illness or other exceptional cause beyond their control
may apply in writing to the relevant Faculty for special consideration. Separate forms are used for
in-semester assessment (such as to obtain extensions of due dates for assignments or deferment
of class tests) and end-of-semester assessment (deferment of a final exam). Both types of
application must be supported by documentary evidence and are subject to time limits. An
adjustment of marks is not an available outcome of special consideration.

For further details and forms, refer to the facultys special consideration websitehttp://monash.edu
/exams/special-consideration.html.

Penalties for Late submission

A penalty will be applied for late submission of assignments. The penalty will be a percentage of
the available mark, applied after the work has been marked, and in accordance with the number of
days or hours after the published due date the assignment is submitted. The penalty will be
calculated as follows:

For assignments and take-home examinations of ten days or more in duration, marks will be
deducted at a rate of 10% of the marks available for that assessment piece per day (or part
thereof) that the assessment piece is late.

For assignments and take-home examinations of less than ten days duration, marks will be
deducted at a rate of 5% of the marks available for that assessment piece for the first hour (or part
thereof) that the assessment piece is late; and 10% of the marks available for that assessment
piece for every subsequent hour (or part thereof) that the assessment piece is late.

No late submissions will be accepted after the date that assignments are returned to students
unless otherwise specified in the unit guide by the Chief Examiner.

The Chief Examiner is required to keep records of the penalty applied to each student concerned,
and to ensure that the penalty is reflected in the final result for the unit.

Students must be advised upon return of the mark for their assignment or take-home examination
that a penalty has been applied.

In the case of assessments other than assignments or take-home exams, the relevant Unit Guides
will set out whether late submissions will be accepted and, if so, the penalties that will apply.

Weekends and public holidays are included in the count of days.

Where a short extension (in the case of assignments) or special consideration (in the case of
assignments and take-home examinations) has been approved, late penalties will commence from
the revised due date and time.

Where hard copy assessment pieces are submitted in the assignment boxes outside the opening
hours of the student services office, they will be date stamped on the next day that the student
services office is open.

Submission of Late Assessments

The application of late penalties means that after a certain period of time following the due date,
the marks available to assessment pieces would reduce to zero. To allow for this, late
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LAW4155 International human rights - Semester 1 (S1-01) - 2017
 the marks available to assessment pieces would reduce to zero. To allow for this, late
assessments will only be accepted up to the end of that period as below:

For assignments and take home examinations of ten days or more in duration, submission
will remain open for 9 days following the due date and time
For assignments and take home examinations of less than ten days in duration, submission
will remain open for 10 hours following the due date and time

Where a short extension has been granted, submission will remain open to accommodate the
additional days.

Penalties for exceeding word limit

A reduction of 1 mark for every 50 words or part thereof over the word limit, where 1 mark penalty
is 1 percentage point out of the total 100 percentage points for the whole unit. Students will be
advised upon return of their assignment mark that the penalty will be applied to their final mark.

Returning assignments
Your assignment will be returned before the end of the semester.

Resubmission of assignments
Resubmission of assignments is not permitted.

Referencing requirements

To build your skills in citing and referencing, and using different referencing styles, see the online
tutorial Academic Integrity: Demystifying Citing and Referencing at
http://www.lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/

Assignment submission
Hard Copy Submission: Assignments must include a cover sheet.The coversheet is accessible via
the Monash portal page located at http://www.law.monash.edu.au/current-students/resources/forms
/index.html under the heading Learning and teaching tools. Please keep a copy of tasks
completed for your records. Hard copy assignments are to be submitted to the assignment box
located in the Undergraduate Student Services counter area.

Online Submission: If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your
work via the Moodle pagefor this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Assessments must be submitted electronically using Moodle. Do not submit files attached to
emails. Log into https://my.monash.edu.au/ and select Moodle from the left menu. Select the unit
for which you wish to submit work.

Unless you have made prior arrangements with your lecturer, only the following file formats
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 Unless you have made prior arrangements with your lecturer, only the following file formats
will be accepted: .doc, .docx, .pdf. However, please refer to the specific assessment task for
format acceptable for each task.
It is essential you adhere to the following format for the naming of the file you wish to submit:
- it must contain your Authcate name; and
- there must be no space in the filename.
Comments and grading of your assessment will be communicated to you either by email, or
post.

Instructions for submitting an assignment electronically using Moodle are found at

http://www.vle.monash.edu/supporttraining/learnbytech/moodle/students/index.html

Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity modules are now available to students via Moodle. These are a set of
interactive tools to enable students to develop the knowledge and skills for good academic
practice. Completion of modules are encouraged for all students to build a strong base for
academic integrity during their Monash learning journey and beyond. The Academic Integrity
online modules are linked from the Library Resource block within Moodle, and are also directly
available at this link:http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/.

There is a also an accompanying Quiz that we recommend students undertake for better
understanding of Academic Integrity. You may self-enrol by searching for Law Academic Integrity
Module on Moodle and enter enrolment keylawstudentself-enrol.

Warning about consequences of disciplinary actionfor Law

students
Students may face disciplinary proceedings for academic misconduct, including plagiarism,
collusion and cheating, and should make sure that they both fully acquaint themselves with the
University statement on plagiarism referred to above and to the further information in the:

University Discipline Statute 4.1

http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/calendar/statutes/statutes04.html
University Plagiarism Procedures
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policybank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-
procedures.html

Studentsshould also read carefully the statement that they are required to sign on the assessment
coversheet.

Students intending to apply for admission to practise law in Victoria should be aware that they will
be required to provide a report from any university at which they have studied on any disciplinary
action arising out of their conduct in the course of study, including disciplinary action with respect
to plagiarism and cheating. Applicants are also required to make their own disclosure of
disciplinary matters (as is the case generally for admission to legal practice). For details, see the
Disclosure Guidelines for Applicants for Admission to the Legal Profession,which can be

accessed via the website of the Victorian Legal Admissions Boardathttp://assets.justice.vic.gov.au

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 accessed via the website of the Victorian Legal Admissions Boardathttp://assets.justice.vic.gov.au
//councillegal/resources/766e3ad0-9f30-4be0-ac8d-deae550b963d
/disclosure+guidelines+for+applicants.pdf.

Feedback to you
All assignments will have feedback in a combination of one or more of the following methods:

1. in the form of a marking guide which is attached to each paper and with comments included
on each paper,
2. uploading a HD sample answer to Moodle,
3. providing individual consultation or individual written comments,
4. holding a review class.

Students should make themselves familiar with the marking criteria. With this in mind if a student
believes that they have not received adequate feedback on their assignments they should contact
their lecturer. If students are still not satisfied with the feedback they have obtained then they
should contact the Chief Examiner. If this still does not amount to the student gaining appropriate
feedback then they should contact the relevant program Director.

Students should note that there is a policy of no remarking of assignments unless there has been
a demonstrated error.

Feedback on exams:

Students are also entitled to know where they went wrong and how they can improve with regard
to exams. Students can request a copy of the exam paper (at no charge). Students should firstly
gain a copy of the exam and then make a time see their stream teacher/lecturer to gain
appropriate feedback.

If they are still not satisfied with the feedback they should contact the Chief Examiner. All failed
exam papers are double marked with the higher of the two marks being given to the student.

With regard to both assignments and exams students are entitled to know why they got the mark
they did but marks will not be changed unless there has been a demonstrated error

Your feedback to us
One of the formal ways students have to provide feedback on teaching and their learning
experience is through the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. The feedback
is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied with
and areas for improvement.

Previous student evaluations of this unit

In response to previousSETU results of this unit, the following changes have been made:

A compulsory assignment is now included, to reflect the discursive nature of this subject.

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 The traditional sitdown exam has been replaced by a takehome exam, which again reflects the
discursive nature of the subject.

If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu/unitevaluations/index.jsp

Learning resources
MonashLibrary Unit Reading List (if applicable to this unit):
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html

See Moodle page and Reading list

Required resources
Students generally must be able to complete the requirements of their course without the
imposition of fees that are additional to the student contribution amount or tuition fees. However,
students may be charged certain incidental fees or be expected to make certain purchases to
support their study. For more information about this, refer to the Higher Education Administrative
Information for Providers, Chapter 18, Incidental Fees athttp://education.gov.au/help-resources-
providers.

Other information
Policies
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that
staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how
they might uphold them. You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html

Graduate Attributes Policy

http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/management/monash-graduate-
attributes-policy.html

Student Charter
http://www.monash.edu/students/policies/student-charter.html

Student Services
The University provides many different kinds of services to help you gain the most from your
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 The University provides many different kinds of services to help you gain the most from your
studies. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at
http://www.monash.edu/students.

Monash University Library

The Monash University Library provides a range of services, resources and programs that enable
you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research.
Go to http://www.monash.edu/library or the library tab in http://my.monash.edu.au portal for more
information.

Disability Support Services

Students who have a disability, ongoing medical or mental health condition are welcome to contact
Disability Support Services.

Disability Support Services also support students who are carers of a person who is aged and frail
or has a disability, medical condition or mental health condition.

Disability Advisers visit all Victorian campuses on a regular basis.

Website:monash.edu/disability
Telephone: 03 9905 5704 to book an appointment with an Adviser;
Email:disabilitysupportservices@monash.edu
Drop In: Level 1, Western Annexe, 21 Chancellors Walk (Campus Centre) Clayton Campus

Copyright Monash University 2017. All rights reserved. Except as provided in the Copyright Act 1968, this work may
not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the host Faculty and School/Department.

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