Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles
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LEUSL2713 - Citizenship and Human Rights


[2 Q. • 15 Th. • 3 ECTS - credits]


Lecturer : Van Drooghenbroeck Sébastien
Language of instruction : French, although some Court decisions are written in English.
Learning outcomes : The objective of this course is to provide students with a brief overview of how the protection of fundamental rights is guaranteed by the different competent European jurisdictions (Council of Europe & European Union), and to explain how these different jurisdictions must either enter into dialogue, or even conflict, in regard to this shared policy area.

The course consists of presentations covering theoretical aspects as well as case studies in the form of commentaries on judgements by the European Court of Justice, or the European Court of Human Rights.
Prerequisites : Some knowledge of European institutional law.
Course contents : - Knowledge of “Human Rights” and categories of Human Rights.

- Introduction to the different jurisdictions involved in protecting human rights in Europe, and a review of the history of Council of Europe's institutional system.

- The EU Convention of Human Rights: history; guaranteed rights and corresponding state obligations; principles for interpreting and principles governing the limitation of guaranteed rights; the monitoring system.

- The European Social Charter: history, guaranteed rights and limitations; monitoring system.

- The protection of human rights in the European Union: development and combination of the sources of legal protection since the creation of the European Communities up to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (original Treaty provisions, introduction of citizens' rights, case law regarding the general principles of community law, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union), monitoring system.

- The relationship between European systems for the protection of fundamental rights: exchange of good practice and mutual consideration, issues related to the accession of the European Union to the EU Convention of Human Rights as well as the bringing of a case against a European union member state (specifically, with respect to the actions of a body or institution of that state) before the European Court of Human Rights.
Mode of delivery : Lectures and case studies.
Assessment methods and criteria : Written examination
Recommended or required reading : Reading lists are provided in the course syllabus for each of the themes covered during the course.

Course syllabus, with accompanying appendices including the texts of Court judgements and decisions in support of course lectures.