Overview
Globalisation, economic liberalisation and technological advances have in the last three decades facilitated greater interaction and cooperation among States in ways never seen before. There is a greater awareness among States of their interdependence and the need for a concerted response to global issues such as global warming, environmental degradation, humanitarian crises, international refugees, human rights violations, rogue States, terrorism, military adventurism, and pandemics. In this era and context, Public International Law, which provides a regime of legal rules that governs the conduct and relations of sovereign States, and Human Rights Law have gained increasing importance. This unit will introduce you to Public International and Human Rights Law and their importance in the current legal and economic international order. It covers such topics as the sources of international law; subjects of international law; statehood and recognition of States and governments; territorial sovereignty; the law of the sea; international trade law; State responsibility; human rights and self-determination; international criminal justice; the law of treaties; and use of force.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: 24 credit points of law units
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 3 - 2022
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Private email and course evaluation data.
Assessments
The group work for assessment task 1 complies with the unit profile which requires group discussions for the first assessment task. It may be difficult to achieve effective group discussions with the quizzes which were used for the assessment in earlier offerings. If quizzes are to be used in subsequent offerings, they should be designed to promote students engagement or there may be need to amend the unit profile. There were complaints about group members failing to contribute to group work. The groups were large with 7 to 10 students per group. If the group work is to be used, there should be smaller groups of 2 to 4 members to ensure all group members are fully involved in the work. Submission should also be in tracked in word format so contributions from members can be easily seen. Assessments should test students' knowledge of International Law in more novel scenarios so students can more rigorously apply their knowledge to international law principles to a wider range of hypothetical problems.
Feedback from Course evaluation data
Students Engagement
Students should be encouraged to participate more actively in the group work. There should be more clarity on the recommended textbook for the unit and the course guides can be updated in line with the textbook to be used before the next offering of the course.
Feedback from Course evaluation
Weekly tutorials/workshops
Students were generally pleased with the depth and breadth of issues covered. Students expressed great satisfaction with the practical approach to course content. This should be maintained.
- Discuss and explain key topics of Public International and Human Rights Law, such as: the sources and subjects of international law; statehood and State sovereignty; international trade law; State responsibility; human rights and self-determination; and the law of treaties
- Discuss, explain and apply key principles of Public International and Human Rights Law to real and theoretical contexts
- Critically analyse, research and provide solutions to practical and theoretical questions concerning Public International and Human Rights Law.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Group Discussion - 10% | |||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Group Discussion - 10% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
Complete International Law
- Edition: 2nd (2014)
- Authors: Ademola Abass
- Oxford University Press
- ISBN: 9780199679072
- Binding: eBook
An Introduction to Public International Law
- (2022)
- Authors: Cecily Rose et al.
- Cambridge University Press
- ISBN: 9781108377232
- Binding: eBook
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.oyson@cqu.edu.au
o.owoeye@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 07 Nov 2022Module/Topic
International law in the
modern context
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 1.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 14 Nov 2022Module/Topic
Sources of international law
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 2.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 21 Nov 2022Module/Topic
The law of treaties
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 3.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 28 Nov 2022Module/Topic
Territory and the law of the
sea
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 6.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 05 Dec 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 12 Dec 2022Module/Topic
Jurisdiction
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 7.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 19 Dec 2022Module/Topic
Immunity
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 26 Dec 2022Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 02 Jan 2023Module/Topic
The law of use of force
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 10.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 09 Jan 2023Module/Topic
International humanitarian
law
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 12.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 16 Jan 2023Module/Topic
International criminal law
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 16.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 23 Jan 2023Module/Topic
International human rights
Chapter
Ademola Abass, International
Law: Text, Cases, and Materials
(Oxford University Press, 2nd ed,
2014) Chapter 19.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 30 Jan 2023Module/Topic
States’ obligation to respect
human rights
Chapter
Olivier De Schutter, International
Human Rights Law (Cambridge
University Press, 2nd ed, 2014)
Chapter 1.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 06 Feb 2023Module/Topic
Revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 13 Feb 2023Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Group Discussion
This assessment task will involve a group submission. The class will be divided into groups for the purpose of the assessment and all members of a group will have the same mark for the submission made.
Week 4 Friday (2 Dec 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 5 Friday (16 Dec 2022)
This assessment will be assessed according to the following criteria: correct and thorough identification
of the legal issue(s) (10%) and rules/legal principles (30%); correct and thorough analysis and
application of the rules and legal principles to the legal issue(s) and facts (40%); well thought-out
conclusion (10%); and quality of the language usage and observance of proper structure, format, and
instructions (10%).
- Discuss and explain key topics of Public International and Human Rights Law, such as: the sources and subjects of international law; statehood and State sovereignty; international trade law; State responsibility; human rights and self-determination; and the law of treaties
- Discuss, explain and apply key principles of Public International and Human Rights Law to real and theoretical contexts
- Critically analyse, research and provide solutions to practical and theoretical questions concerning Public International and Human Rights Law.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Presentation and Written Assessment
This individual assessment involves answering three questions that will cover any of the
topics up to week 5. The questions will be released on 2 December (Friday) and are due by 6 January 2023 (Friday). The total word count for the answers, including footnotes, should not exceed 1,500 words.
Week 7 Friday (6 Jan 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 9 Friday (20 Jan 2023)
Assessment Criteria
This assessment will be assessed according to the following criteria: correct and thorough identification
of the legal issue(s) (10%) and rules/legal principles (30%); correct and thorough analysis and
application of the rules and legal principles to the legal issue(s) and facts (40%); well thought-out
conclusion (10%); and quality of the language usage and observance of proper structure, format, and
instructions (10%).
- Discuss and explain key topics of Public International and Human Rights Law, such as: the sources and subjects of international law; statehood and State sovereignty; international trade law; State responsibility; human rights and self-determination; and the law of treaties
- Discuss, explain and apply key principles of Public International and Human Rights Law to real and theoretical contexts
- Critically analyse, research and provide solutions to practical and theoretical questions concerning Public International and Human Rights Law.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Written Assessment
This final individual online take home paper involves answering four case-type questions. The total word count for the answers, including footnotes, should not exceed 2,500 words. The take home paper questions will be released and made available on Moodle during the exam period.
1. Submissions after the deadline has passed will not be accepted.
2. Failure to submit by the deadline will result in a mark of zero for this assessment as the paper will not be marked.
3. Extensions are not available for take home papers (although Accessibility adjustments still apply); and
4. Exam conditions apply to all take home papers.
Exam Week Monday (13 Feb 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
In line with university policy, the marked assessment will be returned to students only after the Certification of Grades as stated in the university academic calendar.
This assessment will be assessed according to the following criteria: correct and thorough identification
of the legal issue(s) (10%) and rules/legal principles (30%); correct and thorough analysis and
application of the rules and legal principles to the legal issue(s) and facts (40%); well thought-out
conclusion (10%); and quality of the language usage and observance of proper structure, format, and
instructions (10%).
- Discuss and explain key topics of Public International and Human Rights Law, such as: the sources and subjects of international law; statehood and State sovereignty; international trade law; State responsibility; human rights and self-determination; and the law of treaties
- Discuss, explain and apply key principles of Public International and Human Rights Law to real and theoretical contexts
- Critically analyse, research and provide solutions to practical and theoretical questions concerning Public International and Human Rights Law.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
