Free Online Course
International Human Rights Law and Kashmir:
Prospects and Challenges
16 February 2021 to 10 April 2021
Update:
TUEsday, 12 April 2022
The first edition of this course is over. Please click here for the 2022 edition of the course.
Overview
With the aim of introducing and inculcating a human-rights-based discourse in narratives about Kashmir, the Oxford Kashmir Forum (OxKF) is pleased to announce an eight-week online course on “International Human Rights Law and Kashmir: Prospects and Challenges” from 16 February – 10 April 2021.
By combining theory and practice, this course provides an insight into international human rights law and its enforcement/application in Kashmir. It examines the key rights which have taken centre stage in the human-rights discourse on Kashmir e.g., right to life, right to peaceful assembly, right to freedom of expression, right against torture etc.
Using a mix of lectures, seminars, individual and group exercises, participants will engage actively and critically with the contemporary debates in international human rights law and analyse them in the specific context of Kashmir.
Structure
Each week, we will have one core lecture and one seminar to explore one of the following civil and political rights:
- Right to Life
- Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief
- Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly
- Right to a Fair Trial
- Right to Liberty and Security of Person (Protection Against Arbitrary Detention)
- Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression
- Protection from Enforced Disappearance
- Right against Torture or Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
Each week is divided into two components:
1) Core Lecture
This will introduce the central theme of the week and provide an advanced conceptual understanding of the right. Primarily theory-oriented, the Core Lecture will examine a right under international law, its theoretical underpinnings, its core principles and limitations, and international monitoring and accountability mechanisms available for it. The core lecture will be led by an expert academic on the subject-matter.
2) Seminar
Primarily practice-oriented, seminars will situate the right in the context of Kashmir and examine its application and enforcement. The seminar will be led by lawyers and/or academics from Kashmir.
Instructors and Schedule
Week 1:
Right to Life
Core Lecture
Tuesday, 16 February 2021
2.00pm – 3.30pm GMT / 7.30pm – 9.00pm IST
Dr. Stuart Casey-Maslen
Honorary Professor,
Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
Seminar
Saturday, 20 February 2021
12.30pm – 2.00pm GMT / 6.00pm – 7.30pm ISTWeek 2:
Right to Freedom of Religion and Belief
Core Lecture
Tuesday, 23 February 2021
2.30pm – 4.00pm GMT / 8.00pm – 9.30pm IST
Dr. Nazila Ghanea
Associate Professor in International Human Rights Law,
University of Oxford
Seminar
Saturday, 27 February 2021
12.30pm – 2.30pm GMT / 6.00pm – 8.00pm ISTWeek 3:
Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly
Core Lecture
Tuesday, 2 March 2021
12.30pm – 2.00pm GMT / 6.00pm – 7.30pm IST
Prof. Christof Heyns
Former UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, &
Former Member, UN Human Rights Committee
Seminar
Saturday, 6 March 2021
12.30pm – 2.30pm GMT / 6.00pm – 8.00pm ISTWeek 4:
Right to a Fair Trial
Core Lecture
Tuesday, 9 March 2021
2.00pm – 3.30pm GMT / 7.30pm – 9.00pm IST
Katharina Lewis & Samarth Patel
Senior Legal Assistant & Legal Consultant,
Office of Amal Clooney
Seminar
Saturday, 13 March 2021
12.30pm – 2.30pm GMT / 6.00pm – 8.00pm ISTWeek 5:
Right to Liberty and Security of Person (Protection Against Arbitrary Detention)
Core Lecture
Tuesday, 16 March 2021
12.30pm – 2.00pm GMT / 6.00pm – 7.30pm IST
Dr. Priya Pillai
Lawyer & International Law Specialist
Seminar
Saturday, 20 March 2021
12.30pm – 2.30pm GMT / 6.00pm – 8.00pm ISTWeek 6:
Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression
Core Lecture
Thursday, 25 March 2021
12.30pm – 2.00pm GMT / 6.00pm – 7.30pm IST
Dr. David Kaye
Clinical Professor of Law, University of Califronia &
Former UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Seminar
Saturday, 27 March 2021
12.30pm – 2.30pm GMT / 6.00pm – 8.00pm ISTWeek 7:
Protection from Enforced Disappearance
Core Lecture
Friday, 2 April 2021
1.30pm – 3.00pm BST / 6.00pm – 7.30pm IST
Ms. Aua Baldé
Member, UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances
Seminar
Sunday, 4 April 2021
1.30pm – 3.30pm BST / 6.00pm – 8.00pm ISTWeek 8:
Right against Torture or Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
Core Lecture
Thursday, 8 April 2021
1.30pm – 3.00pm BST / 6.00pm – 7.30pm IST
Dr. Natasa Mavronicola
Reader in Law, University of Birmingham &
Former Special Advisor to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Seminar
Saturday, 10 April 2021
1.30pm – 3.30pm BST / 6.00pm – 8.00pm IST
Expert Lecturers
Seminar Leaders
Moderators
Timing & Platform
The timing for each Core Lecture and Seminar is mentioned above. Participants will be notified via email of any change in the schedule.
This Course will be conducted over Zoom. The Zoom link will be emailed to participants ahead of each Core Lecture and Seminar.
Eligibility
This course is primarily open to law students and graduates; students of other disciplines with a demonstrated experience, understanding or interest in law, particularly human rights law. However, lawyers, social workers and, other humanitarian practitioners who wish to become acquainted with international human rights legal framework and its application in Kashmir are also eligible to apply.
Evaluation and Certificate
There will be no formal mode of assessment at the end of the course. However, students who are admitted to the course will be expected to attend every core lecture and seminar to receive a certificate of completion.
Capacity permitting, we intend to give participants an opportunity to write essays and submit them for feedback from our resident scholars.
Application
Update: Please note that applications to this course are now closed. To apply for the 2022 edition of the course, please click here.
To apply, please send your CV (preferably not more than 2 pages) and a Statement of Interest (around 200 words) explaining your interest in this Course to oxfordkashmirforum@gmail.com. This course requires participants to have a demonstrated understanding of law (and/or human rights). Therefore, you should highlight relevant experiences (formal, voluntary or otherwise) in your Statement of Interest. It’s particularly important for non-law applicants to show that they will be able to engage with the content of the course which, for most part, will be legal/technical in nature.
Applications close on Sunday, 7 February 2021. You will be notified by Wednesday, 10 February 2021 if your application is successful.
Alternatively, you can submit your application by filling the Application Form available here. Please note that you will need to upload your CV and a Statement of Interest with the Application Form.
Disclaimer
This is not an official course of the University of Oxford. Oxford Kashmir Forum is an informal network of scholars and students based out of Oxford and is neither affiliated nor registered with the University of Oxford.
Lecture Recordings
We intend to record the Core Lectures, subject to the consent of speakers. These will be uploaded on our YouTube channel available here. Make sure to subscribe now!
Questions
For any queries related to the Course, please email Sameer Rashid Bhat at sameer.bhat@bsg.ox.ac.uk
Oxford Kashmir Forum 