CHL5704H: International Human Rights Law and Global Health: The Right to Health in Theory and Practice

The course is structured in three modules: The first module will introduce students to international law, human rights, and the right to health. It will explore the theory behind the relationship between health and human rights, and whether human rights complement or impinge on public and global health concerns with remediating inequity and marginalization and achieving social justice. It will overview the international human rights law system, including relevant international human rights law treaties and committees, focusing on the right to health. It will examine core principles and categories of human rights, including the idea of indivisibility. It will explore critiques of international law and human rights, including its relevance to global and public health. The second module will turn to explore mechanisms for realizing the right to health, including international procedures, domestic litigation, and advocacy. It will investigate rights-based health policy, programming and evaluation, and the role of public health professionals in promoting health and human rights. Students will then apply these principles and mechanisms in a role-play exercise simulating an international human rights law problem and/or process. The third module will investigate global health and human rights case-studies, including disability and global mental health, sexual and reproductive health rights and maternal mortality, and the social determinants of health (focusing on the right to water).

0.50
Course is eligible to be completed as Credit/No Credit: Yes
St. George