Tamil Nadu Open University
School of Politics and Public Administration
M.A., Human Rights
Objectives: To train and develop the people in the field of arts and to teach and train the young aspiring M.A., Human Rights
1. Eligibility: UG
2. Duration: Two Year (Academic Year / Calendar Year)
3. Medium : English
4. Scheme of Evaluation:
Course Code / Course Title / Credits / Marks DistributionSpot Assignment (Internal) / Term End Exam (External) / Total
MHR – 11 / Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on Human Rights and Duties / 8 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 12 / Constitutional Foundations of Human Rights in India / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 13 / International Perspectives on Human Rights / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 14 / Education, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 15 / Research Methodology / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 21 / Societal Problems and Social Movements in India / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 22 / Development, Globalisation and Human Rights / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 23 / Major Themes and Issues in Human Rights / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 24 / Environment and Human Rights / 6 / 25 / 75 / 100
MHR – 25 / Specialisation Course (Any One of the following course)
1. Science, Technology and Human Rights
2. Marginalised Sections: Human Rights and Duties
3. Working Class and Human Rights
or
Project Work / 8 / 25 / 75 / 100
Examination System: Examination to the M.A., Human Rights is designed to maintain quality of standard. Theory examinations will be conducted by the University in the Identified Centers and the Teaching Practice will be conducted in the Programme Study Centre. For the Spot Assignment students should come to Programme Study Centre and write the Assignment with the help of Books /materials for each Course, Which will be evaluated by the evaluators appointed by University.
Spot Assignment: Spot Assignment carries 25 Marks, Consists of Short Answer Question (150 Words) and Long Answer question (350 Words) for
Section – A: Three Shot Answer Questions : 3x5 =15 Marks
Section – B: A Long Answer Question : 1x10 =10 Marks
Total 25 Marks
Theory Examination: Students shall normally be allowed to appear for theory examination by completing Spot Assignment. The Term-End Examination Shall Carry Section A and Section: B.
Section-A: Shot Answer Questions : 5x5 = 25 Marks
Five out of Eight Questions
Section-A: Long Answer Questions : 5x10 = 50 Marks
Five out of Eight Questions
Total 75 Marks
Passing Minimum: The Passing minimum is 45 percent in the external (Theory) Examination and overall 50 per cent for successful completion of Each Course.
Classification of Successful Candidate: Candidate who pass all the Course and who secure 60 per and above in the aggregate of marks will be placed in the first class. Those securing 50 per cent and above but below 60 per cent in the aggregate will be placed in the second class.
M.A. Human Rights
First Year
S.No. / Course Code / Course Title1. / MHR – 11 / Historical and Theoretical Perspectives on Human Rights and Duties
2. / MHR – 12 / Constitutional Foundations of Human Rights in India
3. / MHR – 13 / International Perspectives on Human Rights
4. / MHR – 14 / Education, Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
5. / MHR – 15 / Research Methodology
Second Year
S.No. / Course Code / Course Title1. / MHR – 21 / Societal Problems and Social Movements in India
2. / MHR – 22 / Development, Globalisation and Human Rights
3. / MHR – 23 / Major Themes and Issues in Human Rights
4. / MHR – 24 / Environment and Human Rights
5. / MHR – 25 / Specialisation Course (Any One of the following course)
1. Science, Technology and Human Rights
2. Marginalised Sections: Human Rights and Duties
3. Working Class and Human Rights
OR
5. / MHR – 25 / Project Work
MHR - 11
First Year
HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DUTIES
Block I: Human Rights - An introduction
Human Rights: Meaning, nature, bases, source, ethos and classification of rights - Universal Human Values: Dignity, Justice and Equality.
Block II: Human Rights - A Historical Perspectives
Magna Carta, - British Bill of Rights - French and American Declarations - UN Charter -International Bill of Rights.
Block III: Human Rights - Theoretical Perspectives
Natural Rights theory - Liberal theory of rights - Legal/Positivist theory of Rights - Marxist theory of rights - Sociological theory of Rights - and Cultural theory of Rights.
Block IV: Culture, Religion and Human Rights
Human rights and Cultural Relativism - Cultural Diversity, Pluralism and Human Rights -Religion and Human Rights – Theological Perspectives on Human Rights.
Block V: Human Rights, Duties and Responsibilities
Concept of Duties and Responsibilities - Relationship between Rights and Duties - Classification of Human duties and responsibilities: General - (a) Moral, ethical, social, economic, political and cultural (b) Universal (c) Traditional/Modern.
Book References:
1. Bhagwati, P.N. (1987), Dimensions of Human Rights, Madurai: Society for Community Organization Trust.
2. Jack Donnelly, 2005, Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practices, Manas Publications: New Delhi
3. Dube, M. P. and Neeta Bora (ed.) (2000), Perspectives on Human Rights, New Delhi: Anamika Publishers.
4. Freeman, Michael (2003), Human Rights: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Cambridge: Polity Press.
5. Hargopal, G. (1999), Political Economy of Human Rights, Hyderabad: Himalaya.
MHR - 12
CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA
Block I: The Indian Constitution: Human Rights and Duties
Fundamental Rights - Directive Principles of State Policy - Fundamental Duties - Relationship between them - International human rights and the Indian Constitution – Democratic System and Welfare State.
Block II: Affirmative Legislation for Specific Categories /Vulnerable Sections
Reservations and the right to equality - Safeguarding Women: in Private and Public domains: Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 - Law Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace, 2012 - Workers: The Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 - The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 - Children: Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 - Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2005.
Block III: Enforcement Mechanisms and Problems
Introduction to Human Rights Commissions and its Provisions – Constitutional Mechanisms: Judiciary and Executive; Statutory Mechanisms: Human Rights Commissions: National and State levels - SC/ST Commission, Minorities Commission, Women's Commission - Problems of Enforcement of Human Rights In India - Abuse of executive power: deaths and torture in police custody etc. - Special Laws and Human Rights Violations - Lack of accountability and transparency in government functioning.
Block IV: Constitutional Provisions
Critical Appraisal of Human Rights under Indian Constitution – Relevant Articles – Human Rights in India and Article 2(7) of the UN Charter – Indian Constitution and UN Declaration – Universal Economic, Social and Cultural Right and the Indian Constitution – Human Rights in India and a comparison with USA and China.
Block V: The State and Civil Society in India
Role of civil society: NGOs, Social movements, pressure groups and media in observing the duty to protect, promote and generate awareness against human rights violations in private domain: within the family, by dominant castes, religious groups - Human Rights violations in public domain: State, landlords, employers, etc., - Riots and violence in connection with inter-community tensions; Unequal access to natural resources.
Book References:
1. Austin, Granville (2000), Working of a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience, New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
2. Basu, D.D. (2009), Introduction to the Constitution of India, Nagpur, New Delhi, Nexus Lexis, Butterworths.
3. Kashyap, Subhash C. (1978), Human Rights and Parliament, Delhi: Metropolitan.
4. Mehta, P.L. and Neena Verma (1995), Human Rights under the Indian Constitution, New Delhi: Deep and Deep Publications.
5. Noorani, A.G. (2006), Constitutional Questions and Citizens Rights, Oxford University Press.
MHR – 13
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Block I: Emergence and Growth
The Emergence of International Human Rights Norms - Internationally Recognized Human Rights - Growth and Institutionalisation.
Block II: International Norms and Standard
United nations Character - Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 - International Covenant on Civil, Economic, Social, Political and Cultural Rights 1966 - Fundamental Duties and Responsibilities of UNO – UN Security Council - UN General Assembly - UN High Commission for Human Rights – Human Rights Watch – Vienna Declaration on Human Rights.
Block III: Regional Level
European Convention of Human Rights, 1950 - European Court of human Rights -European Commissioner of Human Rights - OAU Charter - African Charter of Human and People’s Rights - African Commission of Human Rights - American Convention on Human Rights, 1969 - American Commission of Human Rights - Development of Human Rights Institutions in Latin America.
Block IV: Human Rights in Asia
Arab Regional Commission of Human Rights – SAARC and Human Rights – Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, North Korea and China – Castiesm in India as a Human Rights violation.
Block V: International Response to Problems
UNHRC: Its Role and Functions - Racial discrimination: International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial discrimination 1965 - UNESCO Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice 1978 - Geneva Convention on International Humanitarian Law 1949 - Convention on Protection of Refugees 1951 and 1967 protocol - Conventions on the protection of all person from torture, and other Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984 - Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of genocide, 1948.
Book References:
1. Digumarti Bhaskaro Rao (2001), Human Rights and United Nations Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi
2. Digumarti Bhaskara Rao (2001), International Instrument of Human Rights Discovery Publication, New Delhi
3. Henry J Steiner and Philip Alston(ed) (2000), International Human Rights in Context Oxford University Press
4. Jack Donnelly (2005), Universal Human Rights Manas Publication, New Delhi
5. Mishra, Pramod (ed.) (2000), Human Rights in South Asia, Delhi: Kalpaz Publications.
MHR – 14
EDUCATION, PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Block I: Introduction
Origin, Development and Significance of Human Rights Education – Approaches to Human Rights Education – Contemporary Development in Human Rights Education.
Block II: Human Rights Education Policies
National and International Policy on Human Rights Education: Human Rights Education Policy in India – Current Scenario of Human Rights Education – UNO and Human Rights Education Policies – Growth of Teaching in Human Rights Education.
Block III: Implementation of Human Rights Education
UN Advisory Services and Technical Cooperation in Human Rights Education – National Assistance and Technical Cooperation of Human Rights Education – Functionaries in Human Rights Education : Criminal Justice System, Judges, Lawyers, Police and Prison Officials – Human Rights Education and NGOs.
Block IV: Teaching of Human Rights
Principles and Practice in Teaching of Human Rights Education – Curriculum for Human Rights Education (Primary, Elementary, Higher and Professional Levels) – Human Rights Education: Problems and Challenges (Strategies, Role of UNESCO, Role of School, Education as Fundamental Right) – Human Rights Commissions and Human Rights Education (National and State).
Block V: Human Rights Education: Emerging Trends and Dimensions
Research Priorities in Human Rights Education – Problems in Universalising Human Rights Norms – Obstacles to Dissemination of Human Rights Research – Deficiencies in Human Rights Education – Current Approaches in Human Rights Education – Training Aspects of Human Rights Education : Design, Techniques, Aids and Issues.
Book References:
1. Alston, Phillip (ed.) (1992), The United Nations and Human Rights: A Critical Appraisal, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
2. Jha, R.C. (1995), Resurrecting A Human Right in India, New Delhi: Sheriden Book Company
3. Ponaiyan, M. and Panch Ramalingam (1999), Education and Human Rights, P.R. Books, New Delhi.
4. Saxena, K.P., (1996), Teaching Human Rights: A Manual for Adult Education, Landy Books, New Delhi.
5. Sharma, Gokulesh, (2003) Indianization of Rights and Duties, New Delhi: Manas.
MHR – 15
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Block I: Introduction on Research
Social Science Research: Meaning, Nature, Objectives and Types – Scientific Methods of Social Science Research – Importance of Social Science Research in Human Rights – Issues and Trends.
Block II: Research Problem, Hypothesis, Research Design and Sampling
Identification of Research Problem – Hypotheses: (Meaning, Significance, Types & Source) Research Design, (Historical, Descriptive, Explorative, Analytical and Empirical & Research Studies (Panel and Case) – Selection of Universe & Various Methods of Sampling and Scaling.
Block III: Data Collection
Data Collection: Sources of Data (Primary and Secondary), Tools and Techniques of Data Collection, (Questionnaire, Interview Schedules, Observation and Projective Techniques).
Block IV: Statistical Analysis
Classification, Codification and Tabulation of Data – Analysis of Data: Statistical Method – Significance and Limitations, Measures of Central Tendency (Mean, Median & Mode), Measures of Dispersion (Range, Quartile, Mean Deviation & Standard Deviation).
Block V: Report Writing
Report Writing: Structure – Characteristics and Precautions – Role of Computers in Research – Ethics in Social Science Research.
Book References:
1. Goode & Hatte (1987), Methods of Social Research, New Delhi, McGrow Hill Book Company.
2. Pauline V. Young (1979), Scientific Social Survey & Research, New Delhi, Printice Hall of India.
3. John Galtung (1967), Theory & Methods of Social Research, New Delhi: Colombia University Press.
4. S.R. Bajpai (1998), Methods of Social Survey & Research, Kanpur, Kitab Mahal.
5. S.R. Kothari (2002), Research Methodology- Methods & Techniques (2nd Ed.), New Delhi: Wiley Eastern Ltd.
MHR – 21
Second Year
SOCIETAL PROBLEMS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN INDIA