Human Rights Center |Current Courses

International Human Rights in Theory and Practice
Peace and Conflict Studies 126
Professor Rachel Shigekane
Tues/Thurs. 12:30 - 2:00 PM
100 Wheeler Hall
CCN: 66748
4 Units/Class size: 53
Course syllabus in Word format.

Course Overview: Within the last several decades, the concept of international human rights has become widely referred to and increasingly popular. This is particularly true with the creation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in 1993, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1994 and the creation of the International Criminal Court in July 2002, the first permanent court established to bring to justice individuals who commit the most serious violations of international law, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

This course surveys the field of international human rights. It will provide students with an overview of the historical, theoretical, political and legal underpinnings that have shaped and continue to shape the development of human rights. We will discuss where the concept of human rights originates, how these ideas have been memorialized in international declarations and covenants, and how they develop over time and are enforced and monitored. We will also examine a variety of issues, some controversial, that fall under the rubric of human rights. The overall goal of the course is to encourage students to analyze the events of the world and of our community through an international human rights framework.

The course will not only introduce students to substantive topics within human rights but will provide an opportunity to develop critical thinking, oral presentation, research, and writing skills. The course is designed to encourage discussion and to raise many more questions than it will answer.

Course Instructor: Rachel Shigekane is Senior Program Officer at the Human Rights Center and Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, UC Berkeley. Prior to coming to the Center, Shigekane was the Managing Attorney at a non-profit legal services program where she focused on welfare reform and access to health and welfare benefits for immigrants, children and those with disabilities.

Contact information: 460 Stephens Hall, (510) 643-2713, rshig@berkeley.edu. Office hours: 2 – 4 PM Thursdays or by appointment.


IN THIS SECTION Current Courses Past Courses Related Courses	COURSES Current Courses - Fall 2007 International Human Rights in Theory and Practice Peace and Conflict Studies 126 Professor Rachel Shigekane Tues/Thurs. 12:30 - 2:00 PM 100 Wheeler Hall CCN: 66748 4 Units/Class size: 53 Course syllabus in Word format. Course Overview: Within the last several decades, the concept of international human rights has become widely referred to and increasingly popular. This is particularly true with the creation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in 1993, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1994 and the creation of the International Criminal Court in July 2002, the first permanent court established to bring to justice individuals who commit the most serious violations of international law, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. This course surveys the field of international human rights. It will provide students with an overview of the historical, theoretical, political and legal underpinnings that have shaped and continue to shape the development of human rights. We will discuss where the concept of human rights originates, how these ideas have been memorialized in international declarations and covenants, and how they develop over time and are enforced and monitored. We will also examine a variety of issues, some controversial, that fall under the rubric of human rights. The overall goal of the course is to encourage students to analyze the events of the world and of our community through an international human rights framework. The course will not only introduce students to substantive topics within human rights but will provide an opportunity to develop critical thinking, oral presentation, research, and writing skills. The course is designed to encourage discussion and to raise many more questions than it will answer. Course Instructor: Rachel Shigekane is Senior Program Officer at the Human Rights Center and Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies, UC Berkeley. Prior to coming to the Center, Shigekane was the Managing Attorney at a non-profit legal services program where she focused on welfare reform and access to health and welfare benefits for immigrants, children and those with disabilities. Contact information: 460 Stephens Hall, (510) 643-2713, rshig@berkeley.edu. Office hours: 2 – 4 PM Thursdays or by appointment.