Violence and Human Rights

The course introduces students to the concept of human rights and to the forms of violence, oppression or deprivation that human rights are meant to protect against. Through a critical examination of the contemporary United States, the course will explore the nature of rights, the relation between people(s) and governments, and the structural conditions that threaten human dignity and collective well-being. Special attention will be given to the role of the criminal legal system in exacerbating insecurity and vulnerability among marginalized populations. The course will also consider how social movements and civil society groups have used the framework of human rights to highlight the interconnections across different forms of violence and to challenge harmful state policies and practices. Offered annually.