International Human Rights course at The Hague, Netherlands

This is a January Term 2011 course tittled INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNALS, which will take place in The Hague, Netherlands from January 4th to the 20th, 2011.

Course description
Associate Professor of Law Flavio Risech will lead a group of Hampshire and Five College students on this exciting exploration of the international legal institutions established at The Hague, Netherlands, and Strasbourg, France. The group will engage in research visits to the new International Criminal Court; the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the venue for the atrocities trial of Liberia’s deposed leader Charles Taylor and others; the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, site of the ongoing trials of those accused of war crimes in Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia and Serbia in the 1990s; the International Court of Justice, the UN’s high court for resolution of disputes between States, and the European Court of Human Rights located at Strasbourg, the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. We will meet with court personnel, prosecutors, defense attorneys and members of NGOs concerned with international criminal jurisprudence. Observation of actual court proceedings and trials will be the central activity. There will be ample opportunities to discuss issues and ask questions.

Most of our time will be spent at The Hague, with several days each in Amsterdam and Strasbourg. In addition to the tribunals, we will also visit some key human rights sites in the Netherlands, including the Anne Frank House, the Netherlands Holocaust memorial, the Jewish Historical Museum, the Museum of the Dutch Resistance, and the Homo-Monument, one of the world’s only official monuments to the struggle for lesbian and gay rights. In Strasbourg we will visit the Europarliament and the seat of the Council of Europe and stay near the beautiful medieval core of the city.

Generally the evenings will be free for you to explore the rich cultural offerings of The Hague, Amsterdam and Strasbourg. Because students make their own transatlantic flight arrangements, they are free to arrive in Europe before the start of the course or stay after it ends, to extend their stay on their own if they so desire.

Academic Expectations and Evaluation Requirements
Before travel, students will be expected to complete several background readings and begin an internet-based research project involving one of the trials expected to be in session during the time of the field visit. Students will research the historical background of the cases, read the indictments against the accused and other pleadings of record, and research the international law applicable to the case to produce a preliminary case statement summarizing their research to that point. This statement will be due upon arrival in Europe. Students should be prepared to present an informal oral summary of their case report to the rest of the group at that time. During the field visit students will observe the hearings in that case (and others) and keep a field notes journal. Finally, students will be expected to develop an essay critically analyzing the case, using their preliminary report and additional primary and secondary materials and field notes. This essay and the field notes journal will be due on the final day of January term, January 21, 2011. Evaluations will be based upon the written work and the student’s attendance and participation in activities, meetings and discussions.



Who is Eligible?
There is a maximum of 10 participants. Students should have completed or be currently taking a course on international criminal law or human rights law. Priority will be given to students who are taking or have taken a human rights-related course.

Students must have a valid passport at time of application or should apply for one no later than the application deadline. Non-US citizens should check with the Global Education office to determine European Union visa and US re-entry requirements.

Program Costs
• The total cost for the program has not yet been determined but will likely be about $2200, plus airfare. • You will be responsible for purchasing your own air ticket. • The program cost will cover accommodations, most meals, intercity travel in Europe, local public transit, as well as all program costs for the escorted visit. • All other incidental costs are the responsibility of the student. • Limited Financial Aid may be available: contact the Global Education Office for details.

Application Deadline
The deadline to apply to the program is Friday, October 15, 2010!

A nonrefundable deposit of $500 will be required by November 1, 2010, for those approved to join the course. Jan Term enrollment begins November 8, 2010; enrollment only permitted if deposit is paid.

How to Apply
The GEO Short-Term Program Application form will be available from the Global Education Office, Merrill House at Hampshire College or at its website http://geo.hampshire.edu or from the instructor, Flavio Risech.

Contact
For more information, contact

Flavio Risech

 * Associate Professor of Law
 * School of Social Science
 * Hampshire College
 * 413-559-5504
 * frisech@hampshire.edu

Katie Irwin

 * 413-559-6197
 * Hampshire Global Education Office
 * kirwin@hampshire.edu

PDF Version of Document
You can download a PDF version of the document [[Media:International_Human_Rights_Tribunals.pdf|here]]