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Unit of study_
LAWS6920: Global Health Law
2025 unit information
The world has experienced a health crisis like no other. COVID-19 has been a defining issue for global health, and for the international laws that govern health. COVID-19 also exemplified the health inequalities that represent the most enduring and consequential global health challenge of our time. This unit explores how the law, and governance, can and should be wielded to meet these challenges. This unit provides students with a firm understanding of the role of international law in promoting, or harming, human health. It covers the foundations of global health law as a field of study and practice, the major actors in global health, the principal international legal instruments governing global health, contemporary threats to global health, and innovative solutions for global health governance in the 21st Century. We will explore the content and functioning of ‘hard’ international legal instruments such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, as well as ‘soft’ law instruments such as the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. We will also explore key innovations in global health law and governance on the horizon, including reforms to the International Health Regulations and a new treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The unit will cover naturally occurring infectious diseases, past and future epidemics, major chronic diseases caused by modern lifestyles (e.g., unhealthy diet, alcohol, and tobacco use), and the complex health threats of climate change and antimicrobial resistance. The central theme throughout our discussions will be global health with justice – striving to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for everyone, not only in the aggregate but also distributed fairly across all populations. The unit uses innovative teaching activities to engage students, including contemporary case studies, mock sessions of intergovernmental negotiating bodies, and real-life pandemic simulations. By the end of this unit, students will be able to apply knowledge obtained in this and other classes to the most important public health problems facing contemporary society. They will be able to critically evaluate and utilise the tools the law presently provides to address health needs, and they will also be able to understand the gaps in current legal frameworks. Designed as a complement to other health law coursework, this unit serves as an important stepping-stone to the sort of real-world problem-solving public health lawyers perform on a daily basis. Above all, this unit is designed to be highly engaging and stimulating, appealing to a broad range of students. It is also dealing with health challenges of major consequence for the health and well-being of people everywhere. Refer to Sydney Law School timetable - https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney Law School
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Law |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. analyse and critically reflect on the legal, economic, political, and public health policy concepts relevant to global health law.
- LO2. identify and describe to an advanced and integrated level the major institutions and organizations influencing global health, including intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and foundations
- LO3. critically Evaluate the effectiveness of international legal and policy mechanisms in advancing health goals and comprehend the theoretical framework underpinning contemporary international law related to global health
- LO4. apply advanced legal research skills to critically assess and explain the significant contemporary challenges in global health and their underlying causes
- LO5. synthesise complex legal ideas and concepts to create sound written and oral arguments and critically reflect on the appropriate role of law in addressing global health needs and priorities
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
There are no availabilities for this year.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Intensive August 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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