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Home / Syllabus / Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) / TY BSW / Semester 6 / Human Rights and Law

Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Human Rights and Law Syllabus - Mumbai University

This is the syllabus of the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is the only college offering the B.S.W. under the University of Mumbai. The college has been autonomous since 2019-20 and empowered autonomous since 2024-25, so it sets this syllabus and conducts these examinations itself, and the degree awarded is still a University of Mumbai degree. The University last set a common B.S.W. paper of its own in 2019; this is the current document, amended in June 2026.

Human Rights and Law Syllabus.pdf
Major · Semester 6 · TY BSW · 4 credits

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Syllabus for Human Rights and Law

Major · Semester 6 · TY BSW · 4 credits

About this course

Human rights are required to achieve well-being and empowerment for all, especially the vulnerable and oppressed. The course helps learners understand past and current events and the development of rights from the lenses of all humans as well as specific disadvantaged groups. The learners understand how laws are implemented across contexts, including cultural. They also understand the role of non-governmental organizations in developing a culture that protects and promotes the rights of all people.

Course objectives

  • Understand the history and types of human rights
  • Understand the development and implementation of human rights in India by the government and non-governmental organizations
  • Acquire socio-legal skills to work with the system for the protection of rights of the marginalized

Learning outcomes

  • CO 193 Discuss the origin, development, characteristics and types of human rights
  • CO 194 List the human rights challenges of specific disadvantaged groups
  • CO 195 Deliberate on the status of implementation of human rights in India
  • CO 196 Apply paralegal skills to work with the system for the protection of rights of the marginalized

Unit I

  • Human rights: Definition and history, Natural rights, Positive and negative human rights, First, second and third generation rights
  • Evolution of Human Rights Movement
  • Human Rights under the Constitution of India with reference to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR – 1948)
  • The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA),1993
  • Transgender protection act 2019
  • The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

Essential readings

  • SAHRDC (2006). Introducing Human Rights. Delhi: South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre
  • Chandrachud, A. (2017). Republic of Rhetoric: Free Speech and the Constitution of India, New Delhi: Penguin

Unit II: Introduction to International Human Rights Instruments

  • Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1963
  • The First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
  • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 1976
  • Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984
  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
  • Nelson Mandela Rules 2015
  • United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006.
  • United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of The Child (UNCRC), 1992
  • NGOs in the field of HR and Paris Principles, 1993

Essential readings

  • Basu, D. D. (1989). Introduction to Constitution of India. NY: Prentice Hall
  • Donnelly, J. (2014). Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Jaipur: Rawat
  • Freeman, M. (2003). Human Rights. New Delhi: Atlantic for Polity Press

Unit III

  • Human rights of women in India and National Commission for Women
  • Human rights of children in India and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
  • Human rights of minorities in India and National Commission for Minorities
  • Human rights of SC/ST/NT/DNT and National Commissions
  • Human rights of displaced and project affected people
  • Legal services authorities act 1987
  • Human rights and the death penalty
  • National Human Rights Commission (Inquiry Commission both by State and HR bodies
  • State Human Rights Commissions)

Essential readings

  • Nirmal, C. J. (1999). Human Rights in India. New Delhi: OUP
  • Noorani, A. G. (2006). Constitutional Question and Citizen Rights. New Delhi: OUP

Unit IV: Capacity building for para-legal skills

  • Public Interest Litigation
  • Writs
  • Affidavit
  • First information Report
  • Bail
  • RTI
  • Helplines

Essential readings

  • Matthew, P.D, (1998). Legal Education Series. Delhi: Indian Social Institute
  • Gonsalves C, Menezes R. (2013).Criminal Law: Law for action series. Mumbai: ICHRL and HRLN
  • Ronald, Y. (2019). Paralegal Education. OER Commons ( https://oercommons.org/courseware/lesson/65487/student/ )

Reproduced from Regulations and Syllabus of Bachelor of Social Work Degree (2023), Amended 2026, published by the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and sets this syllabus itself. Wording is as printed in that document.

The complete syllabus

This subject is cut from the college's own syllabus document. Open it here if you want the whole thing rather than a single subject.

PDF BSW Syllabus (2023), Amended 2026 - College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan Published by the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan Read full PDF Read
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