Introduction>
Kathmandu School of Law (KSL) has been a part of an international collaboration funded by the European Commission to develop a new Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific). The Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific) was started as second semester from 2010 and consisted of a foundational semester (from July to November) at the University of Sydney and a second semester (from January to May) at one of four partner Universities - Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal), Mahidol University (Thailand), Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia) or University of Colombo (Sri Lanka). It is the only programme of its kind in the Asia Pacific, and fills a significant gap in the strategic path to strengthening democracy and human rights in the region.
The degree is based on the successful European Masters programme introduced by the EC in 1997, which has since expanded to include regional courses in the Balkans, Africa and Latin America. All the application forms should be directed to the University of Sydney.
Management Committee >
Advisor
- Prof. Dr. Yubaraj Sangroula, Professor Incharge, KSL
- Prof. Kapil Shrestha (Member, KSL Council)
Members
- Assoc. Prof. Geeta Pathak Sangroula, Course Coordinator, MHRD Program
- Asst. Prof. Kapil Aryal, Internship/Dissertation Coordinator
- Assoc. Prof. H.K. Rana, Logistic and Administrative Coordinator
- Mr. Sudip Devkota, Administrative Coordinator
- Ms. Sushila Karki, Secretariat
Course Date>
Foundational
Semester: University of
Sydney
• Semester begins:
July 2011
• Semester ends: November
2011
Semester II-Kathmandu
School of Law
• Compulsory Courses:
HRTD 6906 and HRTD 6907
• Semester begins:
8 January 2012
• Compulsory courses
teaching sessions completion:
30 March 2012
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Aims
and Objectives>
The Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific Regional Program) – MHRD (Asia Pacific) – is the only program of its kind in the Asia Pacific. The aim of the program is to develop the capacity of people working in the Asia Pacific region to effectively advocate for, promote awareness of and encourage respect for human rights and democratic principles, both across the region and within their local communities.
The MHRD (Asia Pacific) is an interdisciplinary intensive one-year postgraduate degree that reflects the inseparable links between human rights, democracy, peace and development in the region. Designed for mid-career professionals and highly motivated undergraduates, the degree offers students a unique opportunity to engage first-hand with regional and international human rights issues, and to interact with internationally renowned human rights academics, practitioners and experts. Complemented by funding from the European Commission, this degree provides students with exposure to leading international human rights academics and practitioners.
Degree
Structure>
The degree consists of a foundational semester and a one-week intersessional intensive (July - November, 2011) at the University of Sydney and a second semester (January - May, 2012) at one of four regional partner institutions: Mahidol University (Thailand), Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia), Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal) and the University of Colombo (Sri Lanka).
During the second semester at Kathmandu School of Law (KSL), students have to study two core compulsory units: Human Rights Norms and Mechanisms II (HRTD6906) and Critical and Emerging Regional Issues (HRTD6907) complemented either by Dissertation or Internship or Coursework on three Elective Subjects.
Course Structure>
________________________________________________________________
First Semester - The
University of Sydney
These units are compulsory
for all students and include
the following:
HRTD6901 ----------- Human
Rights Norms and Mechanism
I
HRTD6902 ----------- Human
Rights and Decocratisation
Research
HRTD6903 ----------- Dynamics
of Human Rights Violations
HRTD6904 ----------- Democratisation:
Theory of Practice
HRTD6905 ----------- Human
Rights and Democratisation
intensive
___________________________________________________________________________
Second Semester - Kathmandu
School of Law
Core compulsory Units :
HRTD6906 ----------- Human
Rights Norms and Mechanisms
II
HRTD6907 ----------- Critical
and Emerging Regional Issues
Students will choose one
of the three following options:
(1) HRTD6908 ------ Dissertation
(2) HRTD6909 ------ Internship
(3) Coursework (3 Electives)
----
HRTD6910 ------ Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights
in Developing countries
----
HRTD6911 ------ Women’s
Human Rights
----
HRTD6912 ------ Rights of
Minorities and indigenous
Groups
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Compulsory
Courses at KSL>
During the second semester, students will complete two semester long courses at KSL. The course will be undertaken by full time faculties and a number of visiting faculties and resource persons having national and international experiences and expertise on thematic areas of human rights and democratisation.
Human Rights Norms and Mechanisms II (HRTD6906) forms the second part of the year-long unit on human rights norms and mechanisms. The focus here will be on the substantive content of human rights treaties, regional human rights instruments and domestic implementation. It will bring an understanding of the relationship between international laws, treaties or agreements, and domestic obligations and practices. It will explore on the challenges to the universality of human rights in the region and initiate national debates on new thinking on human rights issues for integrating human rights principles into judicial decision making and mainstream policy processes.
Critical and Emerging Regional Issues (HRTD6907) will expose students to some of the most critical issues of concern in the region. In particular, it will cover issues of development, human rights and the environment, the rights of indigenous peoples, cultural difference and the challenges of promoting human rights in societies where the rule of law, freedom of the press and civil society may not be strongly developed. Students will engage with new and emerging issues and the contestation of human rights that is taking place in their own region. The unit will also allow for students to explore the different meaning of human rights principles or the differing priorities within the body of human rights norms in this region and how this might require different types of approaches to those developed in the global north.
For details of the Compulsory Course Objectives and Unit Description, <http://www.ksl.edu.np/mhrd/MHRD_Compulsory_Course.pdf>
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Dissertation>
Human Rights and Democratisation Dissertation (HRTD6908) offers students the opportunity to undertake supervised original research in an area of specialisation pertaining to human rights and democratisation. Each student writes a thesis consisting of an original academic piece of work consisting of 15,000-18,000 words. The research may incorporate field research undertaken in-country.
KSL has identified a number of supervisors with an area of specialization pertaining to human rights and democratization. The list of supervisors and their research interest can be found at <http://www.ksl.edu.np/mhrd/MHRD_dissertation.pdf> Students can contact the supervisors as per their research interest and the area of specialization. Students should submit the proposal for dissertation beforehand and Dissertation Coordinator will assist student to identify and locate supervisor based on their research interest.
Internship>
Human Rights and Democratisation Internship (HRDT6909) will give selected students an opportunity to immediately put into practice the knowledge acquired throughout the academic year with an aim to acquiring and improving practical work experience, establishing a dialogue between the students and the host organisation, and fostering access to the job market. Students should undergo total eight weeks internship placement in an inter-governmental, governmental or non-governmental organizations working in the area of human rights and democratization in Nepal.
KSL has identified the areas of research and internship opportunities in consultation with different national and international organizations. These organizations have been briefed about the course objectives, learning outcomes and objectives of the internship. Students will be placed on the following organizations based on their research interest and working area:
a) Center for Legal Research & Resource Development (www.celrrd.org)
b) Kathmandu School of Law (www.ksl.edu.np)
c) Pro-public (www.propublic.org)
d) Informal Sector Service Center (www.insec.org)
e) Center for Victims of Torture (www.cvict.org.np)
f) Child Workers in Nepal (www.cwin.org.np)
g) Terre des homes-Nepal (www.tdhnepal.org)
h) South Asia Partnership-Nepal (www.sapnepal.org.np)
i) National Human Rights Commission (www.nhrcnepal.org)
j) National Women’s Commission (www.nwc.gov.np)
k) Amnesty International Nepal (www.amnestynepal.org )
l) INHURED International (www.popwatch.org.np)
m) ICRC Nepal (www.icrc.org)
n) Center for Constitutional Dialogue (CCD) (www.ccd.org.np)
Possible research area and internship opportunities in each organization can be found at <http://www.ksl.edu.np/mhrd/MHRD_Internship_placements_ format.pdf> Internship Coordinator will assist students to identify and locate the appropriate organization for internship.
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Elective
Courses at KSL>
KSL also offers elective subjects for those students who wish to undertake these subjects instead of dissertation or internship. Currently, KSL has offered Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Developing Countries (HRTD6910), Women’s Human Rights (HRTD6911), and Rights of Minorities and Indigenous Groups (HRTD6912) as three elective subjects.
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Developing Countries (HRTD6910) is a Coursework which will re-conceptualize the notion of economic , social, cultural and development rights as basic foundation for achieving human rights and democracy. It will identify the important issues, magnitude of problems and the best practices, including the examples of justiciability of ESC jurisprudence and will explore ways to develop effective approaches for the implementation of ESCR. Women’s Human Rights (HRTD6911) will familiarize students to the normative development of women’s human rights step-by-step and identify critical issues and concerns of women’s human rights in general and in the Asia-Pacific region in particular. In particular, students will develop strategies and ways to eliminate all forms of discrimination (in law and practice) against women.
Rights of Minorities and Indigenous Groups (HRTD6912) will help students to realize and justify the concept of full and equal enjoyment of human rights for all. It will familiarize students with the affirmative provisions under the human rights framework and prepare them for critical understanding of issues of human rights of vulnerable individual/s and the causes and consequences of such vulnerability. This Course will also enable students to contextualize the Human Rights Framework for the advancement and empowerment of disadvantaged section of the society.
Details of Elective Course Objectives and Unit Descriptions can be found at <http://www.ksl.edu.np/mhrd/MHRD_Electives_Course_at_KSL.pdf>
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Library
and Internet Resources>
KSL owns extensive collection of resource materials in manifold issues related to social science, law and justice. The collection of resources has been placed in main library, reference library and moot court hall. The books and documents are computerized and classified in Dewey Decimal Numbering basis. The library has also developed manual system to search the required books and documents. Readers can search the resources either by using the manual or the computer, which shows the number of books and documents on specific subjects and their call number and location. The library has also compiled news paper cuttings on thematic issues for ten years. A separate Human Rights and Democratisation block has been developed which includes books and publication on Human Rights and Democratisation issues.
Similarly, KSL has a separate IT Resource Center to provide students an internet facility encouraging them to carry out online research as a part of their regular curriculum. The center assists the students in learning through web by involving them into online legal research method. It also maintains wireless internet connection within KSL boundary.
VISA
Arrangement for Nepal>
All foreigners except from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan get visa on arrival at the immigration entry points of Nepal. The Immigration offices in such points are opened 24 hours. Entering and departing from other places except the point is treated as the violation of Immigration Act and the Regulation.
There are two types of visa applicable for students of MHRD Course. One of the easiest ways of getting visa is the Tourist visa. The foreign tourist visiting Nepal shall be granted the tourist visa for a period in maximum of 150 days in a visa year (Visa years means January to December). Therefore, if students return within 150 days (5 months), they can apply for tourist visa. But if they stay for more than 150 days in Nepal, they should apply for Study Visa. The study visa shall be granted for one year at a time. For this, KSL should approach the Home Ministry to obtain approval of Nepal Government to allow students to study at KSL. The recommendation of the Ministry of concerned has to be submitted for the study visa. Therefore, KSL requires name list of students who are coming to undertake second semester at KSL. An application for the study visa has to be submitted in the format as referred to in Schedule-2 of Immigration Rules, 1994.
Related information/documents
about the VISA:
-
VISA Arrangement for Nepal
- Immigration Rules
- Immigration Act
Contact>
Assoct. Prof. Geeta Pathak
Sangroula
Course Coordinator
Phone: 977-01-6634455, 6634663
Fax: 977-01-6634801, Cell: 9851078035
E-mail: geetaps01@gmail.com
Asst. Prof. Kapil Aryal
Internship/Dissertation Coordinator
Phone: 977-01-6634455, 6634663
Fax: 977-01-6634801, Cell: 9841345697
E-mail: info@ksl.edu.np, aryalkapil@hotmail.com,
aryalkapil@gmail.com
Ms. Sushila Karki
Secretariat
Phone: 977-01-6634455, 6634663
Fax: 977-01-6634801, Cell: 9841353902
E-mail: info@ksl.edu.np, sushilak1@gmail.com
http://www.ksl.edu.np/mhrd_asia_pacific.asp
