The course intends to discus and understand the relevance and pivotal role of Human Rights in the 21st century, as a lingua franca modern discourse, know its historical evolution in general, realize a triple perspective of international law-based rights, domestic law-based rights and moral/philosophical based rights and its connections and interactions. The international system of human rights protections, namely the global United Nations (UN) ones plus the regional ones, will be addressed. The course will also focus on the relevance of international case law regarding human rights and to be able to explain some of the most relevant cases and evolution and realize the circulation of solutions and techniques between international systems and between international systems and domestic ones. The particularities of International Human Rights Law vis-à-vis international law, namely regarding the Law of Treaties, will be discussed. Finally, several important topics regarding Refugee Law will be addressed.

CILO-1: Students will be able to clarify the relevance and pivotal role of Human Rights in the 21st century, the historical evolution in general, as well as the interactions between international law-based rights, domestic law-based rights and moral/philosophical based rights. CILO-2: Students will be able to elaborate on the international system of human rights protections as well as respective rights and the mechanisms of protection, namely judicial and quasi-judicial ones. CILO-3: Students will be able to explain most relevant cases and evolution regarding human rights, as well as circulation of solutions and techniques between international systems and domestic ones. CILO-4: Students will be able to master contemporary issues and challenges facing international mechanisms for protection of human rights, with a particular focus regarding refugee law, and to figure out the particularities of International Human Rights Law vis-à-vis international law.