Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmitz [Human Rights and Globalization (course contribution)]

Human Rights and Globlization (course contribution)	28.06.23
Universitas Diponegoro (IUP), Semester 2, 2022/23; Wednesday, 22.02. - 29.03.2023, 08:45 - 10:25, and Monday, 20.03.2023, 15.00 - 16:40, online via Zoom
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Final note

After the end of the course this website has been finished. It will stay available for the purpose of deepening and repetition. Thank you for your interest and commitment. You are always welcome to contact me for any comments or questions. With best wishes for your future studies, yours Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmitz

Course Contribution Description

This website informs about my lectures (no. 1 - 6) in the course Human Rights and Globalization (from 22.02.2023) in the International Undergraduate Program of Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang. They complement those of my colleague Dr. Adya Paramita Prabandari.

Downloads (PDF files)

	see also the materials from the course Law and Human Rights (Semester 1)
	Contents

	Bibliography on international human rights law (from Semester 1)
	Assignment (Q & A)
	Slides presented in the lectures - Slide 1 (The universality of human rights; concerning lecture 1) - Slide 2 (The international enforcement of human rights as binding universal values; concerning lecture 2) - Slide 3 (Human rights in international economic relations; concerning lecture 3) - Slide 4 (International business and human rights; concerning lecture 4) - Slide 5 (Religion and human rights; concerning lecture 6)

Contents (summary/details)

Lecture 1: The universality of human rights
I. The Western origin of the human rights idea
II. The global spread of the human rights idea
III. The universal claim of the human rights idea
IV. Historical challenges to the human rights idea
V. The growing global consensus: human rights are universal but their design and balancing can vary in detail
VI. Current controversial issues
- special: The new Indonesian Criminal Code and the universal human right of sexual freedom
VII. Further reading

Lecture 2: The international enforcement of human rights as binding universal values
I. Introduction
II. The enforcement of the prohibition of large-scale gross violations of elementary human rights
III. The legal protection of human rights by geo-regional human rights courts
IV. Options of states and international organisations to generally force or or encourage respect for human rights in a state
V. Further reading

Lecture 3: Human rights in international economic relations
I. The economic globalization as a chance for strengthening human rights
II. Special human rights problems caused by the economic globalization (overview)
III. The respect for human rights as a possible precondition for accepting a state as partner in international trade and economic cooperation
IV. Further reading

Lecture 4: International business and human rights
I. The traditional focus of human rights law on public authorities
II. Global enterprises and their direct and indirect impact on human rights
III. The responsibility of enterprises in the field of human rights
IV. Possible and current approaches to implement the responsibility of enterprises in the field of human rights
V. Further reading

	Lecture 5: Religion and human rights I. An old problem of mankind raised again by globalization II. A fundamental issue: primacy of human rights over religion or of religion over human rights? III. Understanding freedom of religion in the globalised world IV. Special problems V. Further reading
	Lecture 6: Discussion and repetition

Links

A. General links on international human rights law

see the links from the course Law and Human Rights (semester 1)

B. Links concerning special subjects

	concerning lecture 1: Istvàn Lakatos, Thoughts on Universalism versus Cultural Relativism, with Special Attention to Women’s Rights, Pécs Journal of International and European Law - 2018/I; Rita Raposo Telo Major, Must universality of human rights give in to cultural pluralism?, Maastricht University Blog 15.02.2019; Mouez Khalfaoui, Islam, human rights and universality, Universal Rights Group Blog 28.04.2015; Dewey Sim, What are ‘Asian values’ and is the concept still relevant today?, South China Morning Post 24.04.2021
	concerning lecture 2 II: Chapter VI and VII UN Charter, Human Rights and the Security Council (Security Council Report), Humanitarian Intervention (Wikipedia), Responsibility to Protect (UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect), International Criminal Court
	concerning lecture 2 III: European Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights

	concerning lecture 2 IV: Markus Kaltenborn; Markus Krajewski; Heike Kuhn (editors), Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights, 2020
	concerning lecture 3: Ionel Zamfir, Human rights in EU trade agreements. The human rights clause and its application, European Parliamentary Research Service Briefing, 07.2019

concerning lecture 4: Business and Human Rights Journal (since 2016), UN Forum on Business and Human Rights (since 2012); Business and Human Rights Resource Center (privat organisation); Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNHRC resolution, 2011), third revised draft of a treaty on business and human rights (08.2021), sect. 54 UK Modern Slavery Act (on transparency in supply chains to fight modern forms of slavery or forced labour), Bangladesh Accord (binding agreement between global brands and retailers and trade unions of 2013 on safe and healthy working conditions in the Bangladeshy garment industry)

concerning lecture 5: Thomas Schmitz, Freedom of Religion and Tolerance in a Pluralistic Society - illustrated by the Example of Germany, guest lecture UNDIP 04.06.2021