General

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Human Rights and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Professor: Alexandru Balas
July 30, 2014

Course Description: This course is designed for working professional in NGOs, government, international organizations, businesses, or community leaders interested in addressing human rights violations through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) tools. We will discuss the challenges and opportunities in using ADR tools to address various types of human rights violations from both a theoretical and practical perspective. Practitioners and scholars alike have started to develop an increased interest in the linkages between human rights and alternative dispute resolution. NGOs and international organizations are currently advocating integrated 3rd party interventions in violent conflicts that have both human rights and conflict resolution units closely working together.

Throughout this course we will explore the role played by human rights violations at different conflict stages. We will also go beyond political rights, and also analyze the effectiveness of ADR tools in addressing violations of indigenous rights, civil rights in regard to racial, gender, and religious discrimination, business-related human rights, sexual harassment, and child labor. The basics of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) will be introduced and we will discuss about its potential role in addressing human rights violations.

Throughout this course you will have the chance to learn through various methods: webinars, readings, videos, and interacting with each other using online software. The required work for this course is assigned keeping in mind that you also have jobs and a family to spend time with. You should expect to spend about 3-5 hours every week on this course.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the course, the participants will:

• Be able to differentiate between different ADR tools (mediation, facilitation, conciliation etc.)
• Have a general familiarity with the theoretical and practical challenges and opportunities of integrating ADR tools in human rights violations
• Have a general familiarity with different types of human rights and how to effectively address them through ADR
• Be able to identify and apply ADR tools in their work environment if necessary
• Be able to recreate effective ADR tools for addressing human rights violations
• Be part of an international network of practitioners and scholars interested in using mediation and other ADR tools in addressing human rights violations
• Have a general familiarity with online dispute resolution (ODR) mechanisms