Course Section | Columbia Law School

Section Description Provided by Instructor

Course description: L8349

African Human Rights Systems in Comparative Perspective

This seminar deals with the role and impact of African human rights systems in the promotion and protection of human rights in the African continent. It will analyze, contrast and critique the workings of various national, sub-regional and regional African human rights mechanisms such as national human rights institutions, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights and sub-regional judicial bodies like the East African Court of Justice and their relationship with each other and with the international human rights system.

The seminar will also, from a comparative perspective, address contemporary human rights developments and challenges in selected African countries and their impact on regional and global economic, political and security concerns. This is in response to Africa's increasing strategic role and importance in global affairs.