Rights, Humans and Other Animals
Credits
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15
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Module Convenor
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Michael Bowman
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Term Offered
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Spring
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Assessment
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Essay
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Why does international law accord rights to humans? The answer to this question might vary significantly depending upon where the emphasis is placed: on law (why are moral norms or voluntary codes not sufficient?), international (why are domestic arrangements not sufficient?), rights (why will not lesser forms of protection suffice?) or humans (what is so special about this one species amongst so many?).
Naturally one way to investigate such issues is through the study of human rights issues in international law, but another is to consider the position of those who fall beyond the pale – normally non-human animals. What is their status in international law, what duties are owed to or in respect of them, and how can these distinctions from human status be justified?
Aside from its interest in shedding light on the significance of human rights, this topic is of great significance for its own sake, and also in terms of its relationship to the conservation of species and the proper role of international environmental law.