International Law

Overview

Syllabus

Courses

• International Human Rights Law

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  12 weeks long, 6-8 hours a week

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  Human rights are developed through the constant dialogue between international human rights bodies and domestic courts, in a search that crosses geographical, cultural and legal boundaries. The result is a unique human rights grammar, which this course shall discuss and question, examining the sources of human rights, the rights of individuals, the duties of States, and the mechanisms of protection.

  We shall rely extensively on comparative material from different jurisdictions, to study a wide range of topics including, religious freedom in multicultural societies, human rights in employment relationships, economic and social rights in development, or human rights in the context of the fight against terrorism.

• International Humanitarian Law

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  12 weeks long, 4-12 hours a week

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  Armed conflicts have always existed around the world. Unfortunately, recent events have shown that this phenomenon is becoming increasingly complex, especially with respect to some legal issues, such as:

  - The definition of combatants when terrorists are involved in the hostilities.
  - The detention by rebels of State armed forces.
  - The involvement and status of UN peacekeepers in armed conflicts.

  This course will help you understand these complex legal issues by teaching you the norms governing armed conflicts, also known as ‘International Humanitarian Law’ (‘IHL’).We will address these issues in light of recent practice, including the fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda in different regions of the world, as well as other recent and older conflicts, such as those in Armenia, Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, and the Israeli-Palestinian one.

  The course will provide essential theoretical and practical knowledge for students, researchers and academics who wish to specialize in International Humanitarian Law as well as professionals, including members of NGOs, involved in armed conflict situations, or even members of armed forces.

  In this course, you can choose between an audit (free) track and a verified track ($150 fee).

  The audit track

  • Proposes a general approach to International Humanitarian Law (it’s a master level law course so learners with poor knowledge on this subject may have to work harder to understand the materials).
  • Assesses your mastery of the relevant concepts through multiple choice questions that avoid complex and controversial issues.
  • Implies a workload of about 4-7 hours/chapter

  The verified track

  • Offers a deeper and more complex learning experience: detailed considerations and developments on controversial issues, additional videos and readings.
  • Assesses your mastery of complex and controversial issues through more complex MCQ, case studies and peer review assignments.
  • Offers a staff graded final exam.
  • Implies a workload of about 8-12 hours/chapter.
  • Delivers a verified certificate (in case of passing final grade) and allows you to pursue the International Law MicroMasters credentials.

• International Investment Law

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  10 weeks long, 6-8 hours a week

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  Are you aware of the controversial situations facing States and foreign investors nowadays in relation to, for instance, the protection of public health and the environment? Do you recall recent cases such as Philip Morris v Uruguay and Vattenfall v Germany?

  In the aftermath of these high profile cases and in the context of the negotiation of new international investment agreements, like the CETA and the TPP, local populations, policy-makers and NGOs have come to realize the societal importance of international investment law. Passionate and sometimes ill-informed discussions have resulted from this realisation. They have focused on the features of international investment law, which has traditionally granted rights to foreign investors to foster States’ economic development. Central to these discussions are the issues of:

  • the balance between the protection of foreign investors and the right of host States to regulate in order to protect public welfare objectives;
  • the duties and obligations of foreign investors;
  • the promotion of sustainable development in international investment law;
  • the legitimacy of arbitration tribunals to decide on disputes between host States and foreign investors;
  • the coherence of arbitration practice.

  Learning and understanding the features and dynamics of international investment law is key not only for international lawyers and policy-makers, but it is also important knowledge for all well-informed citizens.

  In this law course, you will:

  • discover the history of international investment law and understand the dynamics which shape its evolution;
  • learn the objectives of international investment law and the specific rights international investment agreements grant to foreign investors;
  • discover how those rights have been interpreted by arbitration tribunals;
  • master the features and functions of investor-state arbitration;
  • understand why international investment law and investor-state arbitration are currently the subject of criticism and be able to assess the soundness of this criticism;
  • gain insight into the content of treaties newly concluded, and be able to assess how they address the issues of the right of host States to regulate, of foreign investors’ obligations and of the legitimacy of arbitration tribunals.