DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
SECOND SEMESTER 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course
Code and Title: POLI 468 HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA
Credits:
3 credit hours
Lecture
Period(s) and Venue: Fridays, 09:30-11:20 at
JQB 23
Prerequisites:
None
Course
Instructor: Dr. Kumi Ansah-Koi
Office
Location: Kweku Folson Block, Political Science
Department
Office
Hours: By appointment
Teaching
Assistants: TBA
Tutorial
Hours: TBA
Course
Overview/Objectives/Goals: This course focuses on
current issues regarding Human Rights in Africa. Students are introduced to
pertinent issues bearing on the nature, contemporary significance,
ramifications and challenges or the notion of Human Rights particularly as
regards the African continent. They are as well introduced to basic Human
Rights Instruments and also to various theories of human rights and their
practical import in Africa.
With regards to the methodology and
pedagogy, it must be stated that cases/thematic studies and focal analyses
constitute significant feature of the course. In addition, the web and its
resources are very much integrated into this course. Visuals from various web
sources are particularly helpful teaching aids in this course.
This will be very interactive course. The
course combines on-site learning with online learning activities. Given the
hybrid nature of the course, students are to actively participate on the online
platform in order to fully benefit from the course. Tutorials are compulsory. Timely
and regular attendance at, and involvement in, tutorials and regular classes
would be insisted on.
Learning
Outcomes:
Students will at the end of the course be
able to:
a. Identify
an analytical framework for zeroing in on Human Rights Violations: Relativity
versus Universality of Human Rights
b. Relate
to and interpret commonalities and diversities of Human Rights in Africa
c. Identify
assumptions associated with human rights promotion and protection in Africa
d. Investigate
and examine case studies of Human Rights in Africa based on various thematic
foci
e. Appraise
and justify how mechanisms for the promotion and protection of Human Rights in
Africa play out
Online Platforms: You can access the online platform
by logging on to www.easyclass.com. The access code for this class is VWN9-29ZK. Each student is required to sign
up once. The name of the course on the web platform is HUMAN
RIGHTS IN AFRICA MAIN CAMPUS 2019/2020: POLI 468. There
will also be a class Whatsapp group to facilitate interactions related to the
course. There are separate platforms for the main and city campuses. Students
should therefore only join groups on their campuses.
Plagiarism
policy: Students are expected to duly cite all
sources used in assignments. Failure to do so will result in an automatic fail
grade for those found culpable. In cases where students copy assignments, they
will be given an automatic fail grade.
Assessment
and Grading: End of Semester examination
will consist of six essay questions covering the entire course; out of which
students would be required to answer only three. This would constitute 70% of the total grade.
The course includes five online
assignments based on each of the continent’s five sub-regions. The best four of
your online assignments would account for your class participation grade. The
total of all four assignments would make up 15% of the total grade. Further details on these assignments will
be provided in a separate lecture scheduled in this outline.
There will be group presentations based on
various categories of human rights abuses in Ghana. Each student is supposed to
belong to a group and contribute to the presentation on the assigned date. The
group work and presentations will constitute 10% of the total grade. Details
and rubrics for the group work will be discussed on the date scheduled in this
outline. Finally, a reflective essay which will be based on reflections on the
assigned category or the student’s autobiographical perspectives will
constitute 5% of the total grade.
All assignments are to be submitted
online. The only exception to this rule is for the presentation of the final
reflective essays. Hard copies of a plagiarism report of the final reflective
essays and well as the essays would however be required. All groups presenting
should post copies of their presentation at least 48 hours before their
scheduled presentation. In class presentations should only highlight the most
salient observations, questions, and recommendations.
The
online assignment grades, group presentations and reflective essays would
comprise the mandatory 30% Interim Assessment grade.
Grading
Scale:
|
Letter
Grade
|
Marks
|
|
A
|
80-100
|
|
B+
|
75-79
|
|
B
|
70-74
|
|
C+
|
65-69
|
|
C
|
60-64
|
|
D+
|
55-59
|
|
D
|
50-54
|
|
E
|
45-49
|
|
F
|
0-44
|
Reading
List/Required Text:
Weekly readings will be provided in class
and on the online platform. In addition, students are expected to read material
from the basic reading list attached to this course outline. It is your
responsibility to obtain copies for your tutorials and readings.
Other
Information:
This course outline is subject to
modifications as and when necessary. The online platform will always have the
most current version.
It is the responsibility of students to
regularly check on online for latest information regarding this course. The
instructor will not be held liable in cases where students miss relevant
information as a result of failure to do so.
Given the hybrid nature of the course,
students are encouraged to ensure that they always have enough internet data
during classes. This is because they might sometimes answer questions online
during class hours.
All exams are mandatory and students who
miss them do so at their own expense. Students who miss exams for health
reasons will have to seek written permission from the Head of Department.
Use of mobile phones for purposes not
related to the class during lecture hours is prohibited.
Students with physical challenges and
learning disabilities should not hesitate to communicate their needs to me
early in the semester.
All public holidays will be observed
accordingly. Provision will however be made to accommodate missed lecture
periods.
I am committed to creating an atmosphere
of inclusivity. No student should feel discriminated on basis of religious
orientation, physical ability, nationality, sexual preference or gender. If you
feel threatened at any point during lectures, do not hesitate to draw my
attention to it.
Course Syllabus
|
Date
|
Lecture
Theme/Topic
|
Group
Presenting
|
|
|
1
|
February 7
|
Introduction
to Course: Review of Scope and aims of course; discussion of
course outline
Signing
up for Online Assignments
|
|
|
2
|
February 14
|
Navigating
the Online Platform
Explanation of
Class Participation Assignments and Assignment of Countries/Foci for Class
Participation Activities.
Signing
up for Online Assignments/ Google Registration/Assignment of Groups
Balloting
for Presentation Dates
|
|
|
3
|
February 21
|
The
Notion of Human Rights
Theories;
Nature; Sources; Evolution; Legal Obligations; International Statues; Human
Rights in contemporary Socio-Political Thought; and Human Rights Obligations
of contemporary States/Societies.
We would as well
focus on the basic Human Rights Instruments and Obligation; Human Rights
Promotion and Protection; and also identify an analytical framework for
zeroing in on Human Rights Violations.
Deadline
for Assignment of Groups
|
|
|
4
|
February
28
|
Our
African Matrix
The Notion of
Africa; Basic Socio-Political features of Africa: Commonalities and
Diversities
Human Rights in
Africa: Historical Overview
a. Pre-Colonial/Traditional
Africa and Human Rights
b. Colonial
Africa and Human Rights
c. Post-Colonial
Africa and Human Rights
d. Human
Rights in Africa since the End of the Cold War
African basic
instruments on Human Rights; African basic institution and arrangements
pertaining to Human Rights; and African Contributions to the evolution of
Human Rights.
|
|
|
5
|
March 6
|
A survey of
Human Rights in Contemporary Africa
State of Human
Rights in Contemporary Africa
Human Rights
Violations and shortfalls in Africa
Detailed
Case/Thematic/Focal Studies drawn from Africa would be extrapolated for
analyses. The selection would, among others, cover such themes as
a) FGM
b) Gender/Women/Child
Rights
c) Minority
Rights
d) Reproductive
Rights
e) Sexual
Rights
f) Civil
and Political Rights
We would as well
be particularly concerned with the Human Rights dimensions of the Civil Wars
in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and elsewhere in Africa, as well as
with the Human Rights dimensions of the electoral/political mess in such
countries as Libya, Mali, Congo, Zimbabwe, Somalia and the Central African
Republic.
Group
Presentations start
|
Groups 1-5
|
|
6
|
March 13
|
A survey of
Human Rights in Contemporary Africa
State of Human
Rights in Contemporary Africa
Human Rights
Violations and shortfalls in Africa
Detailed
Case/Thematic/Focal Studies drawn from Africa would be extrapolated for
analyses. The selection would, among others, cover such themes as
g) FGM
h) Gender/Women/Child
Rights
i) Minority
Rights
j) Reproductive
Rights
k) Sexual
Rights
l) Civil
and Political Rights
We would as well
be particularly concerned with the Human Rights dimensions of the Civil Wars
in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and elsewhere in Africa, as well as
with the Human Rights dimensions of the electoral/political mess in such
countries as Libya, Mali, Congo, Zimbabwe, Somalia and the Central African
Republic.
|
Groups 6-10
|
|
7
|
March 20
|
Promotion and
Protection of Human Rights (in Africa)
Introduction
(Why promotion and protection; and what those notion entail)
Overview
Mechanisms for
the Promotion and Protection and how they so far play out. We would be
specifically concerned with the following:
1) Constitutions
and Constitutionalism
2) Law
and Legality/The Rule of Law
3) The Courts
of Law/Justice: The Judiciary
|
Groups 11-15
|
|
8
|
March 27
|
Promotion and
Protection of Human Rights (in Africa)
Introduction
(Why promotion and protection; and what those notion entail)
Overview
Mechanisms for
the Promotion and Protection and how they so far play out. We would be
specifically concerned with the following:
1) The
Mass Media
2) State-Owned/Operated
Human Rights Institutions (CHRAJ would be our case in point)
3) NGOs/Civil
Society Organisations
4) Public
Policies/Programmes/Initiatives
|
Groups 16-20
|
|
9
|
April 3
|
Promotion and
Protection of Human Rights (in Africa)
Introduction
(Why promotion and protection; and what those notion entail)
Overview
Mechanisms for
the Promotion and Protection and how they so far play out. We would be
specifically concerned with the following:
5) International
Organisations/Law/Treaties/Conventions
a)
The UN System
b)
Regional Institutions (Case in point:
OAU/AU)
c)
Sub-regional institutions (case in
point: ECOWAS)
|
Groups 21-25
|
|
10
|
April 10
|
MDGs and SDGs
and Human Rights in Africa
|
Groups 26-30
|
|
11
|
April 17
|
Public Holiday
|
|
|
12
|
April 24
|
ICTs
and Human Rights in Contemporary Africa
Group
Presentations End
|
Groups 31-35
|
|
15
|
May 1
|
Public Holiday
|
|
|
|
May 8
|
Review/Revision.
Would be used for mop up only if necessary
|
|
Rubrics for Online
Assignments
·
There are five (5)
assignments for the whole semester but only your best four (4) will count
towards your final grade.
·
All
assignments should be uploaded on the online
platform. Failure to do so will result in no participation grades. No hard
copies would be accepted.
·
For this course, Africa
will be divided into five (5) sub-regions-North, East, West, Central and
Southern. You are to choose a country from a particular sub-region for each
assignment. No two assignments should be from the same sub-region.
·
You must select your preferred countries on the day assigned for
that purpose. Otherwise, the TAs have the discretion to assign countries.
·
The assignments supposed
to be done with a computer not a
mobile phone. You will have yourself to blame for failure to upload
documents due to compatibility issues.
·
Apart from earning your
participation points, the online assignments will help you hone your research
skills and help you appreciate the similarities and diversities in Human Rights
across various countries.
·
Although you are free to
select your country of research, you have to sign up by the indicated date.
Your selection would be confirmed online by another date.
·
For each country, the
first six (6) people who sign up for each assignment will be permitted to
proceed with research on their preferred countries.
·
Plagiarism will not be
condoned. In cases where it is obvious that two students copied, both students
will have to re-submit.
·
Your
explanations/assignments should not exceed one A4 sheet (single space) or two
pages (double space); and should be of font size 12, regardless of the font
style.
·
Presentation
Format: Presentations may be in the form of
slides/slideshows, pictures, videos, sound recordings, or any material which
will sufficiently include implicit Human Rights themes. You are also welcome to
combine several materials for your presentations. You are to provide a brief
explanation which relates concepts/issues discussed in class to your
information.
·
All assignments should be
submitted online by the due date. Students can upload assignments before the
deadline indicated on the course outline. Assignments
uploaded after the deadline would not be accepted.
·
Grading
Scale
|
Indicator
|
Maximum Points
|
Explanation
|
|
Relevance/
Explanation
|
10
|
Every
presentation should have a paragraph explaining the reason why the
information presented was chosen. Student should demonstrate a sound understanding
of how relevant the material is to the course. Your ability to explain with
terms and concepts associated with this course will attract higher points.
The use of current statistics and tables to strengthen your arguments will be
an advantage.
|
|
Currency
|
5
|
Higher
marks will be awarded to students to present the most current information. No
source should be older than five (5) years.
|
|
Originality/
Creativity
|
5
|
Higher
marks will be awarded to students who address human rights issues which
previous respondents (in this class) have not addressed in the same country.
|
|
Presentation
|
2
|
This
looks at the visual attraction of the work.
|
|
Mechanical
Structure (Grammar/Spelling, Citations)
|
3
|
Sources
should properly be cited in APA format and grammatical and spelling errors
should be avoided.
|
|
Total
|
25
|
|
Rubrics for class presentation and final reflective
paper will be presented in class.
Schedule for Assignments
|
Date
|
Sign Up
|
Portal
|
|
February
7-14
|
Sign
up for all sub-regions
Assign
format for presentations and final reflective paper in class and on Easyclass
|
Link
to Google Sheet will be provided on Easyclass
|
|
February
21
|
Confirmation
of sub-regions
|
Link
to Google Sheet will be provided on Easyclass
|
|
February
28
|
Submission
of First Assignment
|
Easyclass
|
|
March
13
|
Submission
of Second Assignment
|
Easyclass
|
|
March
27
|
Submission
of Third Assignment
|
Easyclass
|
|
April
10
|
Submission
of Fourth Assignment
|
Easyclass
|
|
April
24
|
Submission
of Fifth Assignment
|
Easyclass
|
|
May
2
|
Deadline
for submitting presentation grades
|
Link
to Google Sheet will be provided on Easyclass
|
|
May
6
|
Total
class grades online
|
Link
to Google Sheet will be provided on Easyclass
|
|
May
8
|
Deadline
for reporting all omissions in tallying of class participation grades
|
Easyclass
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
Readings:
Books:
An-Naim, A.
A., & Deng, F. M. (Eds.). (1990). Human rights in Africa: cross-cultural
perspectives. Brookings Institution Press.
Claude, R.
P. (2003). Human Rights, An Interdisciplinary Approach.
Donnelly,
J. (2013). Universal human rights in theory and practice. Cornell
University Press.
Donnelly,
J., & Whelan, D. (2018). International human rights. Routledge.
Easterly,
W. (2016). The Tyranny of Experts: Foreign Aid versus Freedom of the World’s
Poor. The Economics of International Development. Foreign Aid versus
Freedom of the World’s Poor, Basic Books.
Lindio-McGovern,
L., & Wallimann, I. (2016). Globalization and third world women:
Exploitation, coping and resistance. Routledge.
McCorquodale,
R (2003). Human Rights. Routledge
Legal Instruments:
African Charter of the Rights and Welfare
of the Child (1990)
African Charter on Human and People’s
Rights (1981)
Annual Report: CHRAJ
Annual Report: Ghana Police Service
Annual Report: Ghana Prisons Service
Convention against Torture and other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984)
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women (1979)
Convention on the Rights of Person with
Disabilities (2006)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
(1989)
Declaration on the Rights to Development
(1986)
Ghana Human Development Report
Human Rights Clauses of Charter of United
Nations (1945).
International Convention on Civil and
Political Rights (with the optional Protocols) (1966)
International Convention on the Protection
of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (1990)
International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (1996)
Protocols on the Establishment of an
African Courts on Human and Peoples Rights (1998)
Report of Ghana’s National Reconciliation
Commission
Reports on Ghana’s Constitutional Review
Commission
Rome Statue of the International Criminal
Courts (1998)
The 1992 Ghana Constitution
The African Peer Review Mechanism: Country
Report on Ghana
The American Declaration of Independence
The Constitution of USA
The Constitutive Act of the African Union
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(1945)
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of
the Action on Human Rights (1993)
UN Human Rights Commission: Country Reports
on all African countries
US State Department: Human Rights Country
on Ghana
Useful
Web Links:
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