This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Guidelines to develop a stand-alone course

 

This Module provides an outline for a three-hour class, but there is potential to develop the topic further into a stand-alone course. The scope of such a course will be determined by the specific needs of each context, but a possible structure is presented here as a suggestion. The topics presented in this Module provide a good basis for a stand-alone course, with each topic providing the subject matter of one or more Modules within the course.

Session

Topic

Brief description

Week 1

Introduction

  • Introduction of Module 1 objectives, themes, and assessment methodology.
  • Present a lecture to define and illustrate essential concepts.
  • Each class should close with a short debrief – to acknowledge the sensitivity of the issues, and to remind students of options for additional information or support, if required.
  • Exercise 1 – Prior Knowledge

Week 2

The legal nature of standards and norms: an international law overview

  • Present a lecture based on the materials presented in the first part of Topic One of the Module (with a particular emphasis on the legitimacy and authoritative character of international law, and the centrality of the concepts of human dignity and human rights in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice).
  • Show the following video: Human Rights in 2066 | William Schabas | TEDxZurich [14:58 minutes]
  • Group exercise: Divide the class into groups of five to discuss the following questions: 1) Consider and seek agreement within the group on that human rights are universal; 2) Consider and seek agreement within the group on that human rights are not an obstacle to efficient law enforcement.
  • Having reached an agreement, students are asked to write up their conclusions on posters and display them on the class walls.
  • Request that students read the HRC Communication, in the Corinna Horvath Case (Australia) for the next class.

Week 3

Overview of the structure of the UN instruments, monitoring bodies and mechanisms I

Week 4

Overview of the structure of the UN instruments, monitoring bodies and mechanisms II

Week 5

Overview of UN standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice

  • Present a lecture based on the materials presented in Topic Two of the Module.
  • Show the following video: Aligning Anti-Terrorism Laws with Criminal Law and Human Rights | London School of Economics [6:44 minutes]
  • Exercise: Students should find all UN standards and norms relevant for the question of police racial profiling.
  • Students should be provided a printed or a digital copy of the relevant UN standards and norms.
  • 20 minutes for group work in preparation of roundtable or summit.

Week 6

Standards and norms: texts and documents I

  • Lecture based on the materials presented in Topic Two of the Module (including persons in custody, non-custodial sanctions, alternatives to imprisonment, restorative justice, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment).
  • Watch the following video with your students: Inside One of Brazil's Dangerously Overcrowded Prisons | AJ+ [1:25 minutes]
  • Exercise: Ask students to reflect on the international legal framework (including the relevant standards and norms) that is designed to redress the situation of prison overcrowding shown in the film.
  • 20 minutes for group work in preparation of roundtable or summit.

Week 7

Standards and norms: texts and documents II

  • Present a lecture based on materials presented in Topic Two of the Module (including capital punishment, justice for children, crime prevention, violence against women, victim issues, good governance, the independence of the judiciary, the integrity of criminal justice personnel and access to legal aid).
  • Watch the following video: Justice for victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo | Human Rights [6:49 minutes]
  • Exercise: Students should find all UN standards and norms relevant for the adequate policing and prosecution of hate crimes.
  • 20 minutes for group work in preparation of roundtable or summit.

Week 8

Roundtable on Prison Reform

or

Summit on Law Reform

  • Convene the roundtable or summit to conclude Exercise 4 or 5.

Week 9

Case studies

Week 10

Course wrap-up

  • In addition to the shorter debriefing sessions at the close of each class, lecturers should ensure that the final session in the course follows the advice about a strengths-based approach and ideas to inspire students to act as agents of change.
 
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