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Programme: LLM Disability Rights (Coursework)

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Code Faculty
04252024 Faculty of Law
Credits Duration
Minimum duration of study: 2 years Total credits: 200
Contact:
Prof I Grobbelaar-du Plessis
[email protected]
+27 (0)124203752
Miss IN Mgijima
[email protected]
+27 (0)124203111

Programme information

This programme is available for international students.
Closing date for applications: SA applicants – 30 November; non-SA applicants – 31 August.
The duration of the programme will be four semesters (2 years).

Admission requirements

  • A LLB/BProc degree or an equivalent degree from a foreign university that allows entrance to the formal legal profession.
  • Foreign qualifications are subject to SAQA evaluation.
  • A minimum average mark of 65% with respect to the prescribed final-year modules of the LLB/BProc degree.
  • An acceptable level of proficiency in English is required.
  • The maximum number of students admitted for this course is 15 per annum.
  • In addition to the general admission requirements, the following specific selection criteria are used in combination to select the eligible students: geographic representation; gender representation; and equitable representation of persons from vulnerable communities (such as persons with disabilities, persons belonging to indigenous communities and LGBTI persons).
  • Applicants may be required to write an essay within a restricted time period of being given the topic, which is assessed and taken into account in the admission process.

Other programme-specific information

This is a selection programme and only selected applicants will be admitted to the programme.
Mini-dissertation (MND 800)
An approved research proposal must be submitted before registration for the mini-dissertation.
The mini-dissertation must comprise 13 000 to 15 000 words – including footnotes but excluding the list of contents and the bibliography. It must deal with the subject content of one of the modules registered for and should reflect a legal perspective on disability rights.
Any request for an extension of the period for the submission of the mini-dissertation may only be granted by the Dean on recommendation of the Postgraduate Committee.

Research information

The relevant head of department must recommend a supervisor and title for a mini-dissertation and these must be approved by the Postgraduate Committee. The mini-dissertation must be assessed and finalised as set out in the Faculty Board-approved LLM Policy Document of the Faculty. Mini-dissertations, where required, must be submitted in the format determined by the supervisor and approved by the Postgraduate Committee. The supervisor may likewise and subject to the approval of the Postgraduate Committee also determine the research topic and the scope of the proposed research.

Pass with distinction

For the degree to be awarded with distinction a student must obtain an average of at least 75% for all the coursework modules together, as well as a minimum of 75% for the mini-dissertation. The modules must have been written for the first time.

Minimum credits: 75

Core modules

  • Module content:

    The module focuses on core concepts and approaches informing international human rights law. The topics covered include:

    1. Rationale for international human rights law
    2. Sources of international human rights law
    3. Human rights norms and institutions at global (UN), regional (AU), and sub-regional levels
    4. Relationship between international human rights law, general international law and international criminal law
    5. Relationship between international and national human rights law; domestic implementation and subsidiarity

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  • Module content:

    The module focuses on core concepts in selected social science disciplines and in social science research. The topics covered include:

    1. Basic constructs of selected social science disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, pedagogy, and political economy
    2. Qualitative and quantitative research methods

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  • Module content:

    The module focuses on principles and processes of international human rights law at the global level relevant to persons with disabilities. The topics covered include:

    1. Relevant international human rights law principles, concepts and current issues relevant to persons with disabilities
    2. Disability as a social construct and basic concepts of disability rights
    3. Historical trajectory of the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities at the global level
    4. Relevance of sources of international law to disability rights
    5. Development of soft law and treaty law for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities prior to the CRPD
    6. Substantive and procedural protection of the rights of persons with disabilities under the CRPD and its Optional Protocol
    7. Monitoring requirements under the CRPD
    8. Selected United Nation jurisprudence on disability rights

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  • Module content:

    The focus of this module is to examine the protection of disability rights under African regional and national law. The topics covered include:

    1. Historical background on the protection of disability rights in Africa
    2. Regional and sub- regional protection of disability rights in the African human rights system
    3. Historical background and the efficacy of an African Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights on the rights of persons with disabilities
    4. South African legislation, policies and jurisprudence relevant to persons with disabilities, in comparison to other selected African states
    5. Legal reform to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in an African context
    6. Media studies perspective to disability rights in Africa - evaluating the role of media in the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities

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  • Module content:

    In this module, the focus is on aspects of human rights research, fact finding, advocacy and education.

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  • Module content:

    (a) Planning and organising a research project
    (b) Drafting a research proposal: Hypotheses and research question
    (c) Theory in research and methodological approaches to legal research
    (d) Language
    (e) Citation and ethics of citation
    (f) Drafting of chapters and presentation

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Minimum credits: 200

Core modules

  • Module content:

    In this module a multidisciplinary approach is adopted to disability law, policy and practice. The focus is on contemporary challenges in disability law, policy and practice in an African context and selected topics may include:

    1. Contemporary challenges in disability law, policy and practice in Africa
    2. Anthropology of disability in an African context
    3. Disability and intersectionality in an African context, exploring multiple identities and cumulative discrimination
    4. Disability and social change in an African context
    5. Disability rights in practice: legal capacity, supported decision-making and independent living in an African context
    6. Disability and development in Africa: Inclusive development and the sustainable development goals
    7. Disability and social policy
    8. Inclusive education law, policy and practice
    9. Mental health law, policy and practice
    10. Advocacy and access to justice in Africa

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  • Module content:

    (a) The student must submit a research proposal during his/her first year of registration for the LLM degree to the supervisor prior to commencing with the writing of the mini-dissertation.
    (b) A mini-dissertation (MND 800) of 13 000 to 15 000 words inclusive of footnotes but excluding the list of contents and the bibliography, is required. The mini-dissertation must be submitted to the supervisor not later than August of the second year of registration for the LLM programme. The mini-dissertation must deal with the subject content of one of the modules or a combination of the modules registered for by the student for his/her LLM degree. Any request for an extension of the period for submission of the mini-dissertation may only be granted by the Dean on recommendation of the LLM Committee

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The information published here is subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information. The General Regulations (G Regulations) apply to all faculties of the University of Pretoria. It is expected of students to familiarise themselves well with these regulations as well as with the information contained in the General Rules section. Ignorance concerning these regulations and rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression.

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