During this course, students will learn about human rights litigation through the simulation of a court case at the European Court of Human Rights. Developing legal arguments in reference to a fictional scenario of contemporary human rights relevance, students will acquire crucial human rights analytical and advocacy skills.

 

1. Preparatory Reading

• European Convention on Human Rights (https://www.echr.coe.int/Document/Convention_ENG.pdf)
• European Court of Human Rights, International Justice Resource Center (https://ijrcenter.org/european-court-of-human-rights/)

 

2. Introduction Lecture: 12 April, 15.30-18.00

Students will be introduced to human rights litigation and the European Court of Human Rights.

 

3. Explanation and discussion of the human rights case scenario and division of group work: 16 April, 13.00-17.00

This session serves to familiarise students with the case selected for the simulation. The facts of the case will be discussed and open questions will be clarified. Then, students will divide into three groups to prepare legal arguments for the applicant (the individual claiming a violation of their human rights), the defendant (the State) and the Court.

 

4. Deadline for submission of written statements of the Applicant Team: 10 May, 23.59

First, the applicants will be required to submit their legal arguments according to a template that will be made available. This written statement is shared with all course participants so that the defendant team can start preparing their responding statement.

 

5. Deadline for submission of written statements of the Defendant Team: 3 June, 23.59

The defendant team submits their written statement which is again shared with all course participants. Both teams now start to prepare their oral pleadings.

 

6. Simulation of the case before the European Court of Human Rights: 14 June, 09.15-17.00

This last session serves to conduct the simulation of the court case, where the applicants and defendants will plead the case before the Court.

 

7. Deadline for submission of the Court’s judgment: 24 June, 23.59

The Court team delivers its written judgment on the case.

Studens will be assessed based on their written submissions, oral pleadings/presentation and active participation.