LL.B. (Three Years) Human Rights Law and Practice Syllabus - SPPU 2026

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Syllabus for Human Rights Law and Practice

Semester 4 · Second Year · Elective course, any one · 4 credits

Course aims

This course identifies the historical origin of Human Rights at International and National level. This course also creates an understanding of basic components of Human rights such as Value, Dignity, Equality, Justice, Morals and Ethics and Significance. Its vastly covers the First, Second, Third & Fourth Generation Human Rights along with Human Rights of Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Groups. Further this paper gives us knowledge about the Enforcement Mechanism of human rights at national and international level and also provides us importance of human rights education in India. So, this paper will gives an overview to the students about human rights and enforcement mechanism in Indian legal system as well as at international level so that they can understand the concept of human rights in its full sense.

Objectives

Human Rights Education is an indispensable part of the right to education and has gained larger recognition as a human right itself. The key stone of human rights education is that the education should not only aim at producing trained professional workers but also inculcating values of peace and tolerance for higher purpose. Human rights education aims at providing people and students with the abilities to accomplish and produce societal changes and respond social reality for realization of a sense of social justice for poor, marginalized and weaker section of society and to know more about the Social and Economic Status of Women and Children, Status of Socially and Economically Disadvantaged groups - Rights of Indigenous People (Scheduled Tribes), Scheduled Caste, Minorities, Aged and Disabled, Vulnerable Groups - Sex Workers, Domestic Workers, Stateless Persons, Migrant Workers, HIV/AIDS patients, LGBTQ and Prisoners etc. In view of the gaining significance of International Law of Human Rights, this course presents subtly an overview of the International and National perspectives of Human Rights along with the redressal mechanism.

Outcomes

● Students will be acquainted with the basic ideas and fundamental principles of Human Rights and the protection given at national as well as International level.
● Strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
● Full development of human personality and the sense of its dignity;
● Promotion of understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all nations, indigenous people, marginal groups, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Caste, Minorities, Aged and Disabled, Vulnerable Groups - Sex Workers, Domestic Workers, Stateless Persons, Migrant Workers, HIV/AIDS patients, LGBTQ and Prisoners etc

Module 1: Introduction

1. Historical origins of Human Rights in International and National Scenario -Nature and an overview
2. Basic Components of Human rights: Value, Dignity, Equality, Justice, Morals and Ethics and Significance
3. Perspectives on Rights and Duties: Relationship between Rights and Duties
4. Provisions under the Charter of UN: Preamble, Articles 1(3), 13(1)(b), 55 and 56
5. International Bill of Human Rights (UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR) - Nature and significance
6. Introduction to generation of Human Rights

Module 2: First Generation Human Rights

1. The Civil and Political Rights: ICCPR, Part III of the Constitution of
India and Landmark Cases :
2. Civil Rights: Freedom of Opinion - Freedom of Expression and Press,
3. Right to Personal Security in relation to justice and police, Equality before
4. Law, Right to Life and Liberty, Right to Privacy, Right to Religion
5. Political Rights: Equal access to Public, Participation in Governance, Right to Vote and Good Governance

Module 3: Second Generation Human Rights

1. The Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: ICESCR, Part IV of the
Constitution of India and Landmark Cases:
2. Economic and Social Rights: Labour Rights, Right to Property, Right to Education, Freedom of Association, Right to Social Security (Pension, Medical Services - Right to insurance for sickness, old age: Unemployment allowance etc.)
3. Cultural Rights: Right to develop Languages, Right to follow Customs, Folkways, Literature, and Traditions, Right to enjoy Scientific and Technological benefits

Module 4: Third And Fourth Generation Human Rights

1. Group Rights (Third Generation Rights): Right to Development, Right to Self-determination, Right to Peace and Happiness, Right to Safe and Decent Environment, Right to Human Assistance, Right to Adequate Food, Right to water - Landmark Cases
2. Right to Genetic Engineering (Fourth Generation Rights): Right to Protect
3. Human Genome against unethical and unfair exploitation of genetic information (The UNESCO Declaration on Human Genome from 1997), Right to Genetic Identity, Right to impose restrictions on medical (Scientific and Technology) interference, Right to Die in Peace and Dignity, Right to Life of the Unborn (with reference to abortion and infanticide). Relationship of Science & Technology and Human Rights

Module 5: Human Rights of Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Groups

1. Meaning and Definition of Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Groups
2. Social and Economic Status of Women and Children
3. Status of Socially and Economically Disadvantaged groups - Rights of Indigenous People (Scheduled Tribes), Scheduled Caste, Minorities, Aged and Disabled
4. Vulnerable Groups - Sex Workers, Domestic Workers, Stateless Persons, Migrant Workers, HIV/AIDS patients, LGBTQ and Prisoners

Module 6: Enforcement Mechanism of International Human Rights - Constitution

1. Powers and Functions: The Human Rights Committee under ICCPR
2. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights under ICESCR
3. The Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women under CEDAW
4. The Committee on the Rights of the Child under CRC
5. Role of Human Rights Council and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Module 7: Human Rights Enforcement In India

1. The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993: Object, Nature, Scheme, Definitions, Landmark cases
2. Constitution, Powers and Functions of -
a) National Human Rights Commission
b) National Commission for Women
c) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
d) National Commissions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Minorities and other disadvantaged groups
3. Role of Judiciary in Enforcement of Human Rights

Module 8: Significance Of Human Rights Education

1. Meaning and Definition of Human Rights Education
2. Role of UN in the Promotion of Human Rights Education
3. Role of Government of India in the Promotion of Human Rights Education- UGC and Universities

Any other information

1. The topics, cases and suggested readings given above are not exhaustive.
2. Teachers of the Course shall be at liberty to add the case/suggested readings.
3. Students are required to study/refer to the legislations as amended from time to time, and consult the latest editions of books on this course

Reproduced from the Savitribai Phule Pune University Revised CBCS Rule and Syllabus for LL.B., the 2023 pattern as amended on 18 July 2024. Wording is as printed in that syllabus. Module numbering is as printed there too.

The complete syllabus

Every subject above is cut from the revised syllabus. Open the document here if you want the whole thing rather than a single subject.

PDF Complete LL.B. syllabus Revised syllabus (CBCS 2023 pattern), as amended on 18 July 2024 Read full PDF Read

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