,LCP4807 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 2 2025 - DUE 20 August 2025
4 ESSAYS PROVIDED
International Human Rights Law — a critical
essay and distinctions from IHL, ICL and
Refugee Law
Introduction
International human rights law (IHRL) sits at
the centre of modern international legal
discourse. It expresses a set of universal
norms that define and protect the dignity,
equality and basic freedoms of human beings
vis-à-vis states and, increasingly, non-state
actors. But IHRL is not the only branch of
international law that protects persons in
difficult circumstances. International
humanitarian law (IHL or the law of armed
conflict), international criminal law (ICL), and
international refugee law (IRL) overlap with
IHRL in important ways while remaining
distinct in purpose, scope, sources,
addressees and mechanisms of enforcement.
This essay defines IHRL, explains its
structure and modalities of protection, and
then carefully distinguishes it from IHL, ICL
, and refugee law—while critically analysing
how these regimes interact, clash and
complement one another in practice.
Defining international human rights law
IHRL is the body of international norms,
treaties, customary rules and institutional
practices that establish entitlements (rights)
for individuals and corresponding duties for
states and other duty-bearers. Major treaty
instruments include the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a
normative touchstone, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), together
with specialized instruments (e.g.,
Convention on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, Convention Against Torture,
Convention on the Rights of the Child). Core
features of IHRL include:
• Subjects and addressees. Individuals are
rights-holders; states (and sometimes
corporations or international organisations)
are primary duty-bearers obligated to
respect, protect and fulfil rights.
• Type of obligations. Rights may be
Semester 2 2025 - DUE 20 August 2025
4 ESSAYS PROVIDED
International Human Rights Law — a critical
essay and distinctions from IHL, ICL and
Refugee Law
Introduction
International human rights law (IHRL) sits at
the centre of modern international legal
discourse. It expresses a set of universal
norms that define and protect the dignity,
equality and basic freedoms of human beings
vis-à-vis states and, increasingly, non-state
actors. But IHRL is not the only branch of
international law that protects persons in
difficult circumstances. International
humanitarian law (IHL or the law of armed
conflict), international criminal law (ICL), and
international refugee law (IRL) overlap with
IHRL in important ways while remaining
distinct in purpose, scope, sources,
addressees and mechanisms of enforcement.
This essay defines IHRL, explains its
structure and modalities of protection, and
then carefully distinguishes it from IHL, ICL
, and refugee law—while critically analysing
how these regimes interact, clash and
complement one another in practice.
Defining international human rights law
IHRL is the body of international norms,
treaties, customary rules and institutional
practices that establish entitlements (rights)
for individuals and corresponding duties for
states and other duty-bearers. Major treaty
instruments include the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a
normative touchstone, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), together
with specialized instruments (e.g.,
Convention on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, Convention Against Torture,
Convention on the Rights of the Child). Core
features of IHRL include:
• Subjects and addressees. Individuals are
rights-holders; states (and sometimes
corporations or international organisations)
are primary duty-bearers obligated to
respect, protect and fulfil rights.
• Type of obligations. Rights may be
