International Organizations and Advocacy for Human Rights

This seminar exposes students to the practical work of human rights actors in the context of securing and advocating for human rights through inter- and supranational organizations. It is divided into two sections. Section A begins by giving students a general overview of the role of key players in creating and implementing human rights. It then delves into the processes, institutions and material factors that influence inter- and supranational behaviors vis-a-vis human rights obligations. Lectures look in-depth at the role of individuals and collectives of peoples in campaigning for human rights and addressing respective violations. This will culminate into the analysis of cases that have been key in shaping the international human rights regime. Section B familiarizes students with the practical abilities needed to run human rights advocacy campaigns. Through guest lecturers, students will be introduced to insight and expertise on lobbying; campaigning; and research, monitoring and reporting. These campaigns will be centered around their chosen cases that lobby specific inter- or supranational organizations with a possible two-day training with Amnesty International in Berlin. Finally, students will develop human rights-based approaches and strategies to create their own advocacy campaign. At the end of the semester, all students of the seminar will meet in Berlin and visit organizations such as the representative office of the European Union and meet with experts from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Berlin office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. They will get a two-day training with Amnesty International and work for the organization’s Digital Verification Corps. Their findings will be used by Amnesty to hold human rights perpetrators accountable.

This course counts toward the Human Rights certificate.