JJUA04529U International Protection of Refugees

Volume 2013/2014
Education
Master Level
Content
The main objective of the course is to provide participants with a general knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of international refugee law, and the inter-relationship between human rights norms and refugee protection.
Focus will generally be on the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, its definitional scope and protection structure. The interpretation and application of the Convention will be analysed on the basis of cases. Towards this background the course aims at discussing - among other things - contemporary challenges to the refugee protection system, international co-operation in the field of asylum and immigration control, and various alternative protection mechanisms.
As the European Union is currently the only regional entity, which has engaged in the adoption of common and binding rules for the interpretation and implementation of the 1951 Convention, the course will finally focus on existing EU-legislation and proposals for legislation in the field of asylum and, where relevant, immigration in general (common visa policy, etc.)
Learning Outcome
The objective of the course is to enable the students to:
- Explain the comprehensive body of international law of international protection of refugees, asylum and its interrelationship with human rights law.
- Explain and discuss 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, its definitional scope and protection structure.
- Analyse the interpretation of the mandate on the basis of relevant caseload.
- Analyse the European Union’s regional legislation in the field of asylum and refugee protection.
- Identify and discuss the challenges presented by the contemporary context relevant to this field such as the positions of different international organisations and governments regarding security vis a vis asylum and the principle of “non refoulament”.
- Explaining and Discussing contemporary challenges to the refugee protection system, international co-operation in the field of asylum and immigration control, internal displacement (IDPs), mixed flows, and various alternative protection mechanisms
- Identify and analyse the applicability of the Convention in different complex scenarios.
- Identify and discuss challenges to and shortcomings of International Refugee Protection Law
- Analyse and critically reflect upon role of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) and other humanitarian organisations.
- Communicate and formulate her/his knowledge and arguments professionally and linguistically correct and in a way that is structured and coherent
Literature
'Reading material for the course is mainly – but not exclusively - from the book Guy Goodwin-Gill and Jane McAdam, The Refugee in International Law (Oxford: OUP, 2007). Journal articles, book chapters and online documents are also part of the reading material'.

500 pages
A basic knowledge of EU and International Public Law are requisite to attaining the objective of this course.
A good level of English is required to allow class debate.
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  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 34
  • Total
  • 34
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral defence, 20 min
Oral exam based on synopsis, 20 minutes
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period
2. - 6. juni 2014 (preliminary dates)