Human Rights Law I

1. Demonstrate an understanding of human rights principles.
2. Analyze human rights issues within the Nigerian legal system.
3. Evaluate the role of international instruments in protecting human rights.
4. Apply human rights concepts to contemporary legal and social challenges.
5. Critically assess the limitations and challenges in enforcing human rights.
6. Compare and contrast different perspectives on human rights.

13 weeks, about 39 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Historical Development of Human Rights

   • Unit 1: Definition Meaning and Classes of Human Rights · 3 hours

     Define human rights, differentiate between natural law, positivism, and Marxism perspectives.. Explain the historical evolution of human rights..

2. Week 2Module 1: Historical Development of Human Rights

   • Unit 2: Introduction to Human Rights and Civil Liberties · 3 hours

     Define human rights, identify philosophies leading to the concept of human rights.. Distinguish between generations of human rights..

3. Week 3Module 1: Historical Development of Human Rights

   • Unit 3: Historical Antecedents of Human Rights in Nigeria · 3 hours

     Explain the historical antecedents of human rights in Nigeria.. Identify the evolution of human rights from the 1960 to 1999 Constitutions.. Identify how courts have aided entrenchment of fundamental human rights..

4. Week 4Module 1: Historical Development of Human Rights

   • Unit 4: Human Rights as a Universal Concern · 3 hours

     Explain the universalization of human rights, the origin, and content of international human rights norms.. Understand the meaning of fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.. Contrast with fundamental rights in the 1999 Constitution..

5. Week 5Module 1: Historical Development of Human Rights

   • Unit 5: Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principle of State Policy, Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Human Right Cases · 3 hours

     Define fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.. Identify fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution.. Distinguish between fundamental objectives and directive principles and fundamental rights..

6. Week 6Module 2:

   • Unit 1: Fundamental Rights · 3 hours

     Identify fundamental human rights provisions and their derogations.. Understand the right to dignity of human person, personal liberty, and fair hearing..

7. Week 7Module 2:

   • Unit 2: Fundamental Human Rights Cases · 3 hours

     Identify and discuss fundamental human rights provisions and their jurisprudence.. Analyze cases involving fundamental human rights..

8. Week 8Module 2:

   • Unit 3: Violation – Consequences of Disobedience · 3 hours

     Analyze consequences of violating fundamental human rights.. Understand the attitude of Nigerian courts to violations of human rights..

9. Week 9Module 3:

   • Unit 1: Right to Life · 3 hours

     Define the right to life, identify laws governing it, and distinguish between exceptions and unlawful termination of life..

10. Week 10Module 3:

    • Unit 2: Right to Life and the Scope and Limit of Exercise of Police Powers · 3 hours

      Identify constitutional limitations of the Nigeria Police Force.. Know ways police are empowered to take life and when they exceed their mandate..

11. Week 11Module 3:

    • Unit 3: Judicial Attitude to Individual or Fundamental Human Rights in Nigeria · 3 hours

      Understand the judicial attitude of Nigerian courts in protecting fundamental human rights.. Explain constitutional constructions related to individual rights..

12. Week 12Module 3:

    • Unit 4: Right to Life: Nigeria Abortion Law · 3 hours

      Identify constitutional prescriptions for the right to life.. Know jurisprudence on abortion and the rights of an unborn child..

13. Week 13Module 3:

    • Unit 5: Euthanasia and the Right to Life · 3 hours

      State arguments for and against euthanasia.. Understand what euthanasia is and take a position on the desirability of the right to die..