Current Challenges to the Prohibition of Torture (and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment)

Dozent/in	Prof. Nils Melzer; former UN Special Rapporteur; Director of International Law, Policy & Humanitarian Diplomacy, ICRC
Veranstaltungsart	Gastlehrveranstaltung
Code	FS221524
Semester	Frühjahrssemester 2022
Durchführender Fachbereich	Öffentliches Recht
Studienstufe	Master
Termin/e	Fr, 06.05.2022, 09:15 - 17:00 Uhr, 4.B55 Sa, 07.05.2022, 09:15 - 17:00 Uhr, HS 5 Mi, 18.05.2022, 08:15 - 09:15 Uhr, HS 9 (Prüfung)
Umfang	1 Semesterwochenstunde
Inhalt	This course will examine the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international law. Lectures will first introduce definitional concepts and discuss specific criteria governing the prohibition of coercive methods based on the intentional and purposeful infliction of pain or suffering. These concepts and criteria will then be "tested" by directly applying them to selected scenarios and political narratives occurring in present-day reality. The overarching aim of the course is to illustrate and reaffirm the practical relevance of the prohibition in the contemporary global political environment.
Lernziele	To familarise students with the universal prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to explore current challenges and debates affecting that prohibition.
Voraussetzungen	None
Sprache	Englisch
Begrenzung	Yes, 50
Anmeldung	Registration/Deregistration mandatory on the UniPortal from Feb 21, 08.00 until May 10, 2022, 24.00 / counts as exam registration. Master students will bi given priority.
Prüfung	Digital take home exam without zoom supervision The failed exam of a guest lecture cannot be repeated. In order to pass the guest lecture module, it’s necessary to take the exam of another guest lecture.
Abschlussform / Credits	Schriftliche Prüfung, passed or failed / 2 Credits
Hörer-/innen	Ja
Kontakt	nils.melzer@geneva-academy.ch
Anzahl Anmeldungen	36 von maximal 50
Literatur	What’s indispensable? • De Laurentiis/Nicolescu, "The Prohibition of Torture: an Introductory Guide", Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law (https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/lawwire/the-prohibition-of-torture-an-introductory-guide/the-prohibition-of-torture-an-introductory-guide/). Further Literature Thematic reports: • Doswald-Beck, "Human Rights in Times of Conflict and Terrorism" (OUP, 2011), Chapter 7; • APT/CEJIL, "Torture in International Law - a guide to jurisprudence" (2008) (http://www.apt.ch/content/files_res/jurisprudenceguide.pdf); • UN General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, "Biopsychosocial factors conducive to torture and ill-treatment", UN Doc. A/75/179, 20.07.2020. • UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, "Psychological torture", UN Doc. A/HRC/43/49, 20.03.2020. • UN General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, "Relevance of the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to the context of domestic violence", UN Doc. A/74/148, 12.07.2019. • UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, "Corruption-related torture and ill-treatment", Doc. A/HRC/40/59, 16.01.2019. • UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, "Migration-related torture", Doc. A/HRC/37/50, 23.11.2018. • UN General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, "Extra-custodial use of force and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment", UN Doc. A/72/178, 20.07.2017. Country visit reports: • UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on his mission to Serbia and Kosovo” UN Doc A/HRC/40/59/Add.1, 25.01.2019. • UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on his mission to Argentina” UN Doc A/HRC/40/59/Add.2, 28.02.2019. • UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on his mission to Ukraine” UN Doc A/HRC/40/59/Add.3, 17.01.2019. • UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on his mission to Turkey, UN Doc A/HRC/37/50/Add.1, 18.12.2017.