The taught modules offered on the LLM programme vary from year to year. Please check the full list of taught modules list for details of modules running in specific academic years. We make every effort to ensure that every module will be offered, but modules are subject to change and cancellation. You are therefore advised to check this site regularly for further updates throughout the year preceding entry to the LLM programme.
Assessment method for Masters students: 3,000 word coursework essay
Assessment method for SIL students: 3,000 word coursework essay
Human rights law has acquired a central role in Europe. The Council of Europe, the main supranational human rights organisation in the region, is considered to be very effective and paradigmatic at international level, primarily because of the role of the European Court of Human Rights that monitors compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. The European Union, which was not traditionally a human rights organisation, has started to grant human rights a much more central role than it used to. The aim of the module is to investigate both jurisdictions, looking at the substantive law and its monitoring, philosophical issues on its interpretation, as well as the politics on matters such as immigration and social rights.
This module explores the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights. It examines key areas of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, regarding a) the procedure before the European Court b) general methods of interpretation and standards of review used by the European Court of Human Rights (margin of appreciation, proportionality, balancing, autonomous concepts) c) principles and policies on core rights of the Convention (right to life, freedom of expression and right not to be tortured). Although it does not cover the case law on all the rights of the Convention, reference will be made to cases that illustrate the use of general interpretive principles.
1. Introduction to the Strasbourg system
2. The monitoring system: the application process
3. General principles of interpretation: an overview
4. Intentionalism, textualism and evolutive interpretation
5. The margin of appreciation
6. Proportionality and balancing
7. Social rights and the integrated approach
8. Positive obligations
9. Freedom of expression
10. Remedies, compliance and impact on national legal systems
There is no set text for the module. Various articles and book chapters will be assigned for each seminar and posted on Moodle (virtual learning environment).
P Craig, G de Burca, EU Law, OUP, 2011, 5th edition, Chapter 11
G Letsas, A Theory of Interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights, 2nd edition, OUP, 2009
R McCrea, Religion and the Public Order of the European Union, OUP, 2010
S Greer, The European Convention on Human Rights: Achievements, Problems and Prospects, Cambridge University Press, 2006
C Gearty, V Mantouvalou, Debating Social Rights, Hart, 2011