Due to the closure of Austrian universities to aid coronavirus prevention, the dates of this seminar have been postponed for a few weeks. Interested participants may find the new dates below.

 

Understanding Human Rights in Practice

Proseminar in the context of „Cross Disciplinary Strategies“, 2. Semester/Spring 2020

Curriculum

This proseminar aims at discussing specific aspects of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty (http://omnibook.com/view/e0623280-5656-42f8-9edf-5872f8f08562). Students are requested to familiarise themselves with the Global Study (one hard copy is also available at the CDS library) and its summary report to the UN General Assembly (https://undocs.org/A/74/136) before the first class in order to facilitate their decision on which specific aspect of the Global Study they would like to write in their proseminar paper. The Study covers the following six situations of deprivation of liberty:

• - Children deprived of liberty in the administration of justice
• - Children living in prisons with their primary caregivers
• - Children deprived of liberty in institutions
• - Children deprived of liberty for migration-related reasons
• - Children deprived of liberty on national security grounds
• - Children deprived of liberty in the context of armed conflict

Students might focus on one of those situations in a specific country, such as their country of origin. They might also focus on one of the following cross-cutting areas:

• - Gender dimension
• - Children with disabilities
• - Impact on health
• - Children’s participation

The proseminar is divided in the following phases:

1. Preparatory Reading & Submission of Paper Outline

Until 24 April 2020

Students who wish to participate in this proseminar are requested to familiarise themselves roughly with the contents of the Global Study in order to decide which particular aspect they would like to deal with in their paper. In addition, students are required to submit a short (max. 1 page) outline of their paper, including above all a clear research question and methodology aimed at answering this question.

2. Introduction and Discussion of Seminar Paper Topics

30 April 2020, 15:00-18:00

Manfred Nowak presents the Global Study to the class. Afterwards, on the basis of thei previously submitted paper outlines, the preparatory readings and the presentation of the Study, students are requested to present their chosen topic and discuss this in class. 

3. Submission of Paper

9 June

Students will submit a proseminar paper of 15.000 characters including spaces. 

4. Reading of all Proseminar Papers

9 -18 June

Students are requested to read all papers of their colleagues with a view to provide critical feedback. 

5. Presentations

19 June, 09:15-18:00

Paper presentation, discussion and critical feedback by colleagues. Students will make a short (5 minutes) presentation (with Power Point) of their paper followed by critical feedback and discussion among all students.

 

Students from other faculties or universities will be given a place on the course subject to capacities.

 

Formal requirements for seminar papers:

Chicago Manual of Style: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/documents/20191212CitationChart.pdf 

Send all files in one PDF. 

Save PDF as: NameFirstName_TITLE

Cover page with Name, course, matrikelnumber, dateTitle, subtitlePage numbersTable of content (if needed). Name and course must be on each page of the document.

Students will be graded on the basis of

(1) their individual papers,

(2) the presentation of the papers and

(3) their feedback on the papers of their colleagues and joint discussion.

Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty (http://omnibook.com/view/e0623280-5656-42f8-9edf-5872f8f08562)

UN General Assembly report on the Global Study (https://undocs.org/A/74/136) 

Bisset (ed.) (2016), International Human Rights Documents