Welcome, this course introduces you to human rights. Since the end of WWII, “human rights” evolved from a more abstract theoretical concept to an increasingly compelling and influential moral and legal instrument in confronting human suffering and injustice. Yet, numerous challenges remain to the prevention and eradication of human rights violations globally. For instance, the very idea of“universal” human rights remains controversial, and debates over what issues can legitimately be considered under the umbrella of human rights persist. This course provides an introduction to the interdisciplinary study of human rights as a concept, as a set of laws and institutions, and as a set of political and cultural practices.

Thus, we will begin with a study of the philosophical foundations of human rights that seeks to answer questions such as “What are human rights?” and “How or why do we have these rights?” We will then move to the practice of human rights and examine the political structures that enable us to address human rights violations around the globe. Finally, we will consider some of the most salient, and often controversial, contemporary human rights challenges we face today, here in Kenya and the world over. Throughout the semester, we will expand our familiarity with key scholarly debates as well as different policy and advocacy strategies with regard to human rights