Courses

Introductory and advanced courses:

Introduction to Human Rights (VU): An introduction to the system of international human rights protection and selected issues, presented by guest lecturers from theory and practice (Prof. Oberleitner, Prof. Benedek).

International Organizations and Human Rights (KS): Law and practice of international organizations in the field of human rights, with an excursion to international organizations in Geneva, led by the former head of the Austrian International Law Office and now member of the Council of Europe Committee on Violence against Women, Prof. Tichy.

Refugee and Asylum Law (SE): The course offers an introduction to the law and practice of international and Austrian asylum and refugee law. With guest lectures by practitioners (Dr.ⁱⁿ Heschl).

International Migration Law and Human Rights (KS): Introduction to the international legal framework for the regulation of migration (Dr. Heschl)^.

International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Armed Conflict(KS): Introduction to international humanitarian law, with case studies and guest lectures (Prof. Oberleitner).

The European Convention on Human Rights in Theory and Practice (KS): Discussion of selected decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, led by the former judge at the Court, DDr. Elisabeth Steiner. With excursion to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Practice-oriented courses:

Model United Nations: Simulation of Universal Periodic Review in the UN Human Rights Council (PR): The course serves as preparation for active participation in a simulation of the UN Human Rights Council, organized by the Human Rights Center of the University of Padova. Students take on the role of a state or a non-governmental organization. With excursion to the University of Padova. (Prof. Oberleitner)

Human Rights Debate Club (KS): Discussion of selected current issues in the field of human rights with the objective to improve argumentation skills. With guest lectures and rhetoric training for participants (Mag. Faller)

European Human Rights Moot Court I-III (PR): The course serves as preparation for participation in the Helga Pedersen Moot Court, in which students argue a fictitious case before the European Court of Human Rights, and includes rhetoric training. With an excursion to the Moot Court regional round at a European university and (if successful) to the final round at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg (Prof. Oberleitner, Mag. Fischer-Lessiak).

Human Rights in Practice (VU): Discussion of selected issues of international human rights protection with the involvement of human rights experts from international organizations, international courts and NGOs (Prof. Oberleitner, Dr^.in Heschl).

Regional systems of human rights protection (SE): The seminar is taught in hybrid mode (synchronous online learning) by lecturers from the University of Graz, the Doha Graduate Institute (Qatar) and the Universidad Panamericana (Mexico City) and allows participants to learn about European, Inter-American Convention, African and Arab human rights systems in a comparative perspective. Participants gain an understanding of each system’s standards and institutions (Courts and Commissions) and will discuss selected cases, contemporary topics and recurring challenges. The course includes guest lectures (judges at a regional human rights court or experts of a regional commission). Students will work with colleagues from other universities to prepare papers analysing cross-regional human rights issues.