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GEND 3207
Thursday 3:30 – 6:20
Room A122
THE UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
Instructor: Dr. Rosemary Nagy
Office: H128, Ext. 4156
Email: rnagy@nipissingu.ca
Office hours: Mondays 3:30-5:00 or by appointment
Course Description: This course will provide students with an overview of the structure and
function of the United Nations and other international organizations, courts and tribunals designed
to protect human rights. In particular, the course will focus on the prevention and punishment of
war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Inquiring into the three main principles of the
"responsibility to protect"—to prevent, to react, and to rebuild—we will examine the capacity and
record of the international community especially in the cases of Rwanda, Darfur, and the
Democratic Republic of Congo, and with respect to gender-related claims and the capacity of
international justice to redress social and economic harm.
Course Format: Weekly lecture and seminar.
Course Texts:
Karen A. Mingst and Margaret P. Karns. The United Nations in the 21st Century. Boulder, Co.: Perseus,
2007.
Small coursepack available at PrintPlus
Online articles through internet, Ref-share or e-journals
Here are some useful websites
UN and other International bodies
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Criminal Court
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Reliefweb
United Nations
UN Peacebuilding Commission
UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
www.icrc.org
www.icc-cpi.int/home.html&l=en
www.ohchr.org
www.reliefweb.int
www.un.org
www.un.org/peace/peacebuilding
www.unifem.org
www.undp.org
NGOs
Amnesty International
www.amnesty.org
Genocide Watch
www.genocidewatch.org
Global Policy Forum
www.globalpolicy.org
Human Rights Watch:
www.hrw.org
International Centre for Transitional Justice www.ictj.org
International Crisis Group
www.crisisgroup.org
Open Democracy
www.opendemocracy.org
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News and analysis
All Africa
BBC news online
New York Times
Women's Human Rights Resources
Eric Reeves (on Darfur)
www.allafrica.com
www.bbc.com
www.nytimes.com
www.law-lib.utoronto.ca/Diana/
www.sudanreeves.org
Course Evaluation
4 Response papers (2-3 pages each; 7.5% each)
Essay (8-10 pages); Due April 2nd:
Final Exam (regular exam period):
Participation:
30%
30%
30%
10%
Response Papers:
Over the term, students are expected to hand in 4 pieces that critically reflect upon the required
readings for a given week. These are not to be simple summaries. Rather they should attend to
major themes, challenges or tensions in the reading(s). It is often useful to frame your response
paper by posing a question. You might address problems that you detect in the readings, or identify
and address tensions that exist between claims made in the readings, or reflect upon what you view
as the most important insights or challenges you have garnered from the readings. You may in your
response also refer to prior discussions and readings in the course.
Response papers are evaluated for:
 Engagement with articles (integrative approach to the articles, critically grasps the topic at
hand, in-depth, beyond simple summary)
 Argument and Structure (clearly organized with thesis statement, paragraph structure flows,
opinions are substantiated with footnoted reference to articles)
 Writing Style (scholarly style, clearly written, proper grammar)
These written responses are due in class of that week's readings. The first two response
papers should be done within the first half of the course (up to and including the week of February
12). Please, no response papers for Weeks 1, 2, and 13.
Essay (8-10 pages) Due April 2nd
The essay assignment provides students the opportunity to engage with an issue of their choice in
greater depth. It is required that a minimum of five sources be cited in your essay. You may use
course readings or films shown in class. Other acceptable sources include articles from peerreviewed journals, chapters in edited books, books, documentaries, primary documents, and reports
from reputable non-governmental organizations. If you are uncertain about the quality of a source,
please ask. All students must clear their essay topic with me in person by February 5.
Essays must include proper citation and bibliography (outside the page count). Chicago or MLA
style are preferred. See http://www.eclibrary.ca/library/content/view/39/71/ for style guides.
Academic integrity is fully expected. See Nipissing University's policy on academic dishonesty,
including the definitions, penalties and procedures for dealing with plagiarism at
http://www.nipissingu.ca/calendar/studentpolicies_academicdishonesty.asp or in the calendar
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Participation
While attendance is mandatory it cannot alone satisfy participation requirements. Students are
expected to contribute to class discussions in an informed manner that demonstrates critical
engagement with the week’s readings and course themes in general.
Late policy
Reaction papers will not be accepted other than in the class for that week's readings (if you fall ill on
the day of class but had prepared a response paper, you may email it to me on the day of class).
I cannot grant an extension for the essay because it is due on the last day of classes—extensions
after this point are a matter for the registrar's office.
Course Outline:
1. Jan 8 – Course introduction
Mingst and Karns, ch. 1
2. Jan 15 – UN History and Structure
Mingst and Karns, Ch. 2-3.
United Nations Charter (appendix in Mingst and Karns)
United Nations Secretary General (2005) In Larger Freedom: towards development, security and human rights
for all, Executive Summary at http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/summary.html.
*First two response papers due between Jan 22 and Feb 12 in class of that week's readings
3. Jan 22 – Human Rights
Mingst and Karns, ch. 6
Mennecke, Martin (2007) "Punishing Génocidaires: A Deterrent Effect or Not?," Human Rights
Review 8(4):319-339 [ref-share]
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide [online]
Supplemental
Take a look at the range of human rights instruments under international law at OHCHR
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/index.htm#core. Please skim content of ICCPR and
ICESCR
The International Committee of the Red Cross has a good overview of International Humanitarian
law (IHL). www.icrc.org/eng [left-hand menu; scroll to "IHL in brief"]
4. Jan 29 – Peace and Security
Mingst and Karns, ch. 4 [skim or skip section on arms control and disarmament 115-122]
United Nations Secretary-General. 2004. Report on the Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in Conflict and
Post-conflict Societies. [available online or I can email you a copy]
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000) at
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/sc/res1325.pdf.
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5. Feb 5 – Rwanda and The Responsibility to Protect (R2P). *Essay topic to be cleared
with me in person by this week
International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, The Responsibility to Protect, Ottawa:
International Development Research Centre, 2001 at http://www.iciss.ca/report-en.asp.
Read at least the synopsis and chapters 1-5.
Bellamy, Alex J. (2008) "Conflict Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect," Global Governance 14:
135-156. [ref-share]
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Film: The Triumph of Evil (60 min.; 254466)
Supplemental: Understanding the Conflict
Des Forges, Allison. (1999) Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda. New York: Human Rights
Watch. http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/rwanda/ .
6. Feb 12 – Darfur and the Responsibility to Protect
Belloni, Roberto (2006) "The Tragedy of Darfur and the Limits of the Responsibility to Protect,"
Ethnopolitics 5(4):327-346. [ref-share]
Reeves, Eric (13 September 2008) "'Chaos by Design:' Khartoum's Patterns of Violence in Darfur"
at http://www.sudanreeves.org/Article224.html.
Human Rights First et al. (2008) "Rhetoric vs. Reality: The Situation in Darfur" at Human Rights
Watch http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/darfur1208.pdf.
Supplemental: Understanding the Conflict
de Waal, Alex. 2007. The Wars of Sudan. The Nation 284, no. 11 (Mar 19) : 16-20.
de Waal, Alex. (2005). "Defining Genocide," Index on Censorship, 34 (1): 6-13.
Flint, Julie. 2006. "Darfur: Dying for Peace." Review of African Political Economy 33, no. 108 (June) :
325-368.
See also Eric Reeves' website (www.sudanreeves.org) or International Crisis Group.
7. Feb 19 – Reading Week
*Last two response papers due between Feb 26 and Mar 26 in class of that week's readings
8. Feb 26 – DR Congo and Peacekeeper Misconduct
Clark, Phil (2007) "In the Shadow of the Volcano: Democracy and Justice in Congo," Dissent
54(1)29-35. [ref-share]
Higate, Paul (2007) "Peacekeepers, Masculinity, and Sexual Exploitation," Men and Masculinities
10(1):99-119. [ref-share]
Murphy, Ray. 2006. "An Assessment of UN Efforts to Address Sexual Misconduct by Peacekeeping
Personnel." International Peacekeeping 13, no. 4 (Dec) : 531-546. [ref-share]
Plaut, Martin (2007) "Trading Guns for Gold: Pakistani Peacekeepers in the Congo," Review of
African Political Economy, vol. 34, no. 113, pp. 580-588. [ref-share]
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Film: Blue Helmets: Peace and Dishonour (42 min.; 267503)
Supplemental: Understanding the Conflict
[continues next page]
BBC News (21 November 2008) "Q&A: DR Congo conflict" at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3075537.stm.
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Polgreen, Lydia (15 November 2008) "Congo's Riches, Looted by Renegade Troops," New York
Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/world/africa/16congo.html
Gettleman, Jeffrey, "Rape Epidemic Raises Trauma of Civil War" (7 October 2007) New York Times
at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/world/africa/07congo.html
Prunier, Gérard (n.d.) "DR Congo: The Troubled East," Centre for Strategic & International
Studies, Africa Policy Forum at http://forums.csis.org/africa/?p=78.
Gambino, Anthony W. (2008) Congo: Securing Peace, Sustaining Progress, Council on Foreign Relations
Special Report at http://www.cfr.org/publication/17607/congo.html .
9. Mar 5 – International Justice and Gender-based crime
Reread: Mingst and Karns, pages 198-204
Chappell, Louise (2008) "The International Criminal Court: A New Arena for Transforming Gender
Justice?" in Shirin M. Rai and Georgina Waylen, eds., Global Governance. New York: Palgrave.
Pages 160-184. ISBN: 978-0-230-53705. [coursepack]
Buss, Doris. 2007. "The Curious Visibility of Wartime Rape: Gender and Ethnicity in International
Criminal Law." Windsor YB of Access to Justice 25:3-22. ISSN: 0710-0841. [coursepack]
10. Mar 12 – International Justice and Impunity
Sriram, L. Chandra and Amy Ross. 2007. "Geographies of Crimes and Justice: Contemporary
Transitional Justice and the Creation of 'Zones of Impunity'." International Journal of
Transitional Justice 1 (1):45-65. [[ref-share]
Chinkin, Christine (2007) "Peoples' Tribunals: Legitimate or Rough Justice?" Windsor Yearbook of
Access to Justice 24(2):201-220. ISSN: 0710-0841 [coursepack]
11. Mar 19 – Peacebuilding: Broader Paths to Justice
Handrahan, Lori (2004) "Conflict, Gender, Ethnicity and Post-Conflict Reconstruction," Security
Dialogue 35(4):429-445. [ref-share]
Arbour, Louise. 2006. "Economic and Social Justice for Societies in Transition," Second Annual
Transitional Justice lecture hosted by the New York University School of Law Center for
Human Rights and Global Justice and by the International Center for Transitional Justice,
New York University School of Law.
[www.unhchr.ch/Huricane/Huricane.nsf/60a520ce334aaa77802566100031b4bf/40032f0dc
00bf784c12572140031760a/$FILE/TransitionalJustice.pdf]
Mingst and Karns, ch. 5 "Economic Development and Sustainability" (focus on 138-148; 150-155;
158-164]
12. March 26 – Peacebuilding: Broader Paths to Justice
Chinkin, Christine and H. Charlesworth (2006) "Building Women into Peace: the International
Legal Framework," 27 Third World Quarterly (5). [ref-share]
Cohn, Carol (2007) "Mainstreaming Gender in UN Security Policy: A Path to Political
Transformation?" in Shirin M. Rai and Georgina Waylen, eds., Global Governance. New York:
Palgrave. Pages 185-206. ISBN: 978-0-230-53705. [coursepack]
13. April 2 – Conclusions and Review
Mingst and Karns, ch. 8