A study of the idea of the international law of human rights, its origin, development, and the principles which it comprises. The role of United Nation organizations in the dissemination of the idea of human rights and the protection of those rights will be discussed, in addition to the role played by international and regional conventions and agreements, such as the UN Declaration of Human Right and others. Also to be discussed are the approaches employed in these declarations and conventions in order to justify principles of equality, women’s and children’s rights, as well as civil, social, and economic rights. Additionally, the course will touch on such issues as: concepts of rights relevant to cultural specificity and universal humanity; right to life, prohibition of torture, racial discrimination, freedom of speech, protection of minorities, and state of emergency laws. Finally, the course will discuss changes in the interpretation and application of human rights law and violations committed by different states in the present neo-liberal period.