Units / AMU2020
AMU2020 · International human rights
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 2Malaysia School of Arts and Social Sciences
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
In this unit, you will explore the study of human rights from a political, social and legal perspective. You will consider general concepts including the universality of human rights, narratives of cultural relativism and the politics of rights from a global and national perspective. We will dive into the human rights discourse on individual and group rights, from the perspective of indigeneity; race, colour and ethnicity; women; gender and sexuality; culture and religion. You will examine the contestation of rights at the intersections. It is human rights in context and human rights in action as we investigate various social movements which utilise rights-based mobilisation in global and national politics.
Areas of study: Global Studies
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | Second semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In-Class test | Quiz / Test | 10% | — |
| 2 | Policy brief | Written | 20% | — |
| 3 | Oral Presentation | Presentation | 20% | — |
| 4 | Report | Written | 50% | — |
Within semester assessment: 100%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Explain the basic concept of universality of human rights and identify key international human rights instruments;
- Assess relevant literature and critical debates surrounding the human rights discourse;
- Compare and contrast the political, social and legal applications of human rights in the Global North and Global South;
- Analyse the use of rights by social movements in local, national, regional and global politics;
- Communicate arguments verbally and in writing.
Workload
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Tutorials | 24 hours |
| Lectures | 12 hours |
Ask about AMU2020
Answered from the Handbook fields above — no AI, no guessing. Every answer links back to the source.
Community discussions about AMU2020
CommunityStudent experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.