Skip to main content
Unit outline_

SLSS3602: Human Rights: Law, Policy and Protest

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Global human rights and the idea of 'one humanity' became politically possible with the end of the Cold War. This unit explores the production of the human rights system as a top-down process of legalisation, institutionalisation, social policy development and intervention and the bottom-up process of victim claim-making, collective mobilisation and transnational advocacy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Sociology and Criminology
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Socio-Legal Studies or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Criminology
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
SCLG2624
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Allen George, allen.george@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Individual Tutorial Presentation
Individual Tutorial Presentation
10% Multiple weeks 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3
Participation Tutorial Participation
Tutorial Participation
10% Progressive Semester
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2
Assignment Minor assessment
Short essay
30% Week 07
Due date: 11 Sep 2023 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Major essay
Essay
50% Week 13
Due date: 03 Nov 2023 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

  • Minor assignment: Students will write two short essay answers on topics covered early in the semester.
  • Major essay: The essay, or critical research report, is your opportunity to undertake in depth research on a specific topic developing issues raised in the unit in the course of lectures, tutorials and set readings. In your answer you must demonstrate engagement with the content and theories raised in the course. You must use references drawn from the course to demonstrate your critical understanding of the concepts and theories. You should use other relevant references and refer to current events and issues which can be derived from various sources –e.g. academic journals, newspapers, legal reports, documentaries, NGO and government reports. 
  • Class presentation: Students will chose one week in which to ‘lead’ tutorial discussion and upload 500 words of their presentation for grading.
  • Class participation: Students will be allocated marks for participation in tutorials and preparation of the weekly tutorial questions. Marks are not given for mere attendance, that is expected. Assessment is based on demonstrated understanding of weekly readings and participation in tutorial discussions on the set readings. Be prepared – the tutor will randomly ask students to provide a summary of key issues and questions or issues they thought were important.  

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas. 

All assessment tasks must be submitted to complete this unit. A grade of Absent Fail (AF) will be awarded for non-submission.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per day

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: The dynamic relationship between human rights, law and social protest: connections and tensions Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 02 Human rights: Lineages and agendas Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 03 Power, protest & social change Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 04 Violent states: From dictatorial repression to police violence Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 05 Black Lives Matter: From slavery to incarceration Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Indigenous rights from recognition to refusal Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Reparations: From rights violation to repair? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 08 Violence against LGBTIQ people as hate crime and social movement activism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 09 Knitting protest: From direct action to ‘soft’ protest Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 10 Epistemic activism: Disrupting frameworks of violence Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 11 Human rights and the accusation of complicity Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Human rights in the era of neoliberal nationalism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Horizons: Human Rights in the contemporary Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5

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.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • 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.

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. Understand the interconnections between human rights, protest, law and policy
  • LO2. Critically analyse the relationship between law and race, gender and sexuality
  • LO3. Identify and analyze different theoretical perspectives on human rights and social protest
  • LO4. Locate and critique relevant information concerning contemporary human rights issues
  • LO5. Understand contemporary challenges to human rights

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.

Course redesigned in consultation

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.