Postgraduate Module Descriptor


LAWM063: Human Dignity and Human Rights in the EU

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Overview

NQF Level7
Credits15 ECTS Value7.5
Term(s) and duration

This module ran during term 1 (11 weeks)

Academic staff

Dr Catherine Dupre (Convenor)

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Available via distance learning

No

Human dignity is one of the most exciting and rapidly developing legal concepts in the EU. The coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the European Union (EU) Charter of Fundamental Rights suddenly made dignity very visible in Europe: it is the first foundational value (under article 2) of the Union and the first of all human rights in the EU Charter. This module will encourage you to discover and discuss the exciting and challenging concept of dignity: its origins in Member States’ constitutions and in European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law, its – sometimes controversial - connections with human rights and its wider significance for the development of EU constitutionalism and democracy post-Lisbon. Some prior knowledge of EU law and human rights is useful (but not required: you will be given some background reading and guidance if you are new to this field). The module is at the cross-roads of EU law, ECHR law, comparative constitutional law and theory and it will suit you if you are interested in any of these fields. The module also provides you with a sound basis in positive law which will be useful for those of you aiming to pursue a career in the EU or the Council of Europe, or as practising lawyers in the UK, where this concept has been developed following the European model(s).

Module created

01/12/2013

Last revised

21/08/20