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Unit outline_

GOVT3986: Gender, Security and Human Rights

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit offers a gender perspective on human rights, with a focus on gender and insecure international contexts. The unit covers themes related to the challenges of pursuing human rights, violations of human rights, and the role of civil society groups in advocating human rights. Attention will be given to the gendered nature of human rights and to specific issues that impact men and women differently when it comes to human rights protection and promotion.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Government and International Relations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Politics or 12 credit points at 2000 level International Relations or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Diversity Studies or 12 senior credit points from Government and International Relations
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
GOVT2336
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Nicole Wegner, nicole.wegner@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Nicole Wegner, nicole.wegner@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Take-home Final Essay
50% Formal exam period
Due date: 12 Dec 2020 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 02 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 03 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 04 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 05 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 06 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 07 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 08 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 09 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 10 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Reading quiz
See Canvas
5% Week 11 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.’

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to gender and human rights Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Feminism and the evolution of human rights Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 03 Indigenous approaches to human rights Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 04 Queering human rights Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 05 Feminist definitions of security Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 06 Black Lives Matter as a global movement Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 07 Global Incarceration: race, gender and the prison industrial complex Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 08 Refugee asylum seekers and gender, race, and sexuality Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 09 Militarisation and human rights Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 10 Sexual violence in war Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 11 Gender and environmental security Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 12 Review Lecture (2 hr)  
Weekly Optional Drop-in sessions Online class (0.5 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lectures: Lecture content will be pre-recorded and made available on Monday.
  • Tutorials: For Semester 2, 2020, this course does not have tutorials. In lieu, there will be four 30-minute optional drop-in sessions held via Zoom where students can ask questions and discuss material. Students will also be required to complete reading quizzes on Canvas.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an advanced knowledge of leading scholarship and debates on gender, security, and human rights
  • LO2. critically examine current events and apply or relate theoretical debates to these events
  • LO3. demonstrate advanced written communication skills
  • LO4. consider innovative alternative and solutions to pressing global issues related to gender, security and development
  • LO5. engage with scholarship that crosses several disciplines, including international relations, security studies, gender studies, and Indigenous studies.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Unit has only 12 weeks this offering
  • Recorded lectures will be made available Mondays by 6:00 p.m.
  • Reading quizzes are timed and should take students no more than 30 minutes to complete. These quizzes will cover readings and lecture material.
  • Additional details will be provided on Canvas.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.